MacKinnon scores winner as Avalanche rally from 2-goal deficit in 3rd for 6-5 win over Flames
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, front, hugs center Nathan MacKinnon after he scored the go-ahead goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon had open ice, plenty of speed and a steely determination not to let this one get away. Not after this rally.
MacKinnon scored with 4:30 remaining on a breakaway to complete Colorado’s comeback from two goals down in the third period as the Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 6-5 on Monday night.
Trailing 5-3 entering the final period, Ross Colton scored with 8:40 remaining and Mikko Rantanen tied it up with 6:29 left.
MacKinnon scored the winner after Rantanen delivered a long pass to Valeri Nichushkin who dished it over to MacKinnon in stride. MacKinnon simply took it from there.
“We can take the positivity out of that game," MacKinnon said. "No one was deflated. Even after 5-3 we kept pushing and kept a good attitude.”
The goal by MacKinnon spoiled a big game by Nazem Kadri, who had a goal, assist and a roughing penalty against his former team.
Ivan Prosvetov took over in net for Alexandar Georgiev in the third period and stopped all 11 shots he faced.
Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri, right, drives past Colorado Avalanche left wing Miles Wood, left, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
The Flames used a four-goal second period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead heading into the third period. It didn't hold. Calgary pulled goaltender Dan Vladar for an extra skater in the waning seconds but couldn't tie it up.
Andrew Mangiapane, Blake Coleman, Connor Zary and Yegor Sharangovich also had goals for the Flames against a mistake-prone Colorado defense.
“It was looking pretty good there for a while,” Kadri said. “Couple of mental lapses — you can’t do that against good teams.”
Tomas Tatar scored his first goal in a Colorado sweater after being signed in September, Cale Makar added a power-play goal and Ben Meyers, just called up from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, knocked in another.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Tomas Tatar, left, drives past Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Gilbert in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
Makar scored his 73rd career goal to move into sole possession of second place on the franchise's all-time goals list for defensemen. He's two away from tying Tyson Barrie's mark.
MacKinnon also had an assist on Makar’s goal and extended his point streak to 12 games. It’s the sixth point streak of a dozen games or more in his career.
“It shows a lot in terms of how deep guys can dig,” Makar said. “Especially going into the third.”
Kadri had quite a night against a team he was with for three seasons. He gave the Flames an early 1-0 lead with his 250th career goal in the first period and then helped tie it up at 2-apiece in the second with a pass that Mangiapane knocked in.
He rankled Georgiev, too, who pushed Kadri after a play down low. Kadri didn't back down and both drew penalties, with Ryan Johansen serving the one for Georgiev.
“He gave me a pretty good shot with his blocker and I tried to give him a shot back and I missed,” Kadri explained. “We both got penalties for some reason.”
Prosvetov took over for Georgiev. Georgiev allowed five goals on 22 shots.
Kadri said after the morning skate that memories of helping the Avalanche to the 2022 Stanley Cup title instantly flood back whenever he enters Ball Arena. He took a moment to glance up at the banners the team won while in Denver.
Colton fired up the Flames 15 seconds into the game when he delivered a hit on Chris Tanev that sent the Calgary defenseman into the boards. Tanev didn’t return.
UP NEXT
Flames: At Vegas on Tuesday as part of a three-game trip.
Avalanche: Close out a five-game homestand Wednesday against Buffalo.
