Valeri Nichushkin scores in OT as Avs rally past Canucks

Valeri Nichushkin scored a power-play goal 30 seconds into overtime as the Colorado Avalanche rallied from a three-goal, second-period deficit to defeat the host Vancouver Canucks, 4-3, and move into a tie for first place in the Central Division on Wednesday night.

It was the 21st comeback win of the season for Colorado. The Avalanche moved into a tie for first place with the Dallas Stars in the Central with their fifth straight victory.

Colorado began the overtime period with a power play after Vancouver defenseman Carson Soucy picked up a delay of game penalty with nine seconds left in regulation for firing the puck over the glass and into the crowd. Nathan MacKinnon blasted a one-timer from the top of the left circle that deflected off Canucks defenseman Noah Juulsen and then hit the visor of Nichushkin and caromed into the net for the game-winner.

MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist and Ross Colton also scored for Colorado. Alexandar Georgiev finished with 18 saves.

J.T. Miller and Nikita Zadorov each had a goal and an assist and Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Vancouver, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Casey DeSmith stopped 30 of 34 shots for the Canucks.

Vancouver needed only 24 seconds to take a 1-0 lead when Miller, stationed in the slot, redirected Ian Cole's shot from the left point off the left post and into the net for his career-high 33rd goal of the season.

Mikheyev made it 2-0 at the 2:44 mark of the first. Miller set up the score by circling the net and then passing into the slot where a rushing Mikheyev tapped the puck into the top left corner for his 11th goal and first in 35 games.

The Canucks extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second period. Zadorov's one-timer from the top of the left circle beat Georgiev's glove side for his fourth goal at 4:23.

Thirty-seven seconds later, Zadorov, who drew an assist on Mikheyev's goal, dropped the gloves with Josh Manson to earn a fighting major and complete a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight). According to Sportsnet Stats, it was the first Gordie Howe Hat Trick by a Canucks player since Travis Hamonic got one on May 6, 2021.

Colorado got on the scoreboard with just three seconds left in the period when Rantanen redirected a Devon Toews crossing pass into the slot for his 34th goal.

The Avalanche cut it to 3-2 at the 3:19 mark of the third period with a five-on-three power-play goal by MacKinnon, who one-timed a Cale Makar pass from the middle of the left circle for his 42nd goal. It also extended MacKinnon's point streak to 14 games.

Colorado then tied it midway through the period when Colton slid a backhand rebound under a sprawling DeSmith and just over the goal line for his 14th goal.

—Field Level Media