In Denver, Cale Makar scored near the midway point of the extra session on Thursday night to send the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators.
The win gives the Avs a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3 is on Saturday in Nashville.
The was a tight affair with both teams scoring their regulation goals in the opening period.
“Give credit to their goalie (Connor Ingram), he played well,” Makar said. “He was making the saves that he needed to make for them, and the one at the end there, just [got through] traffic. I tried to just throw it low and luckily went in, but it was overall just a good effort, I feel like, by the guys getting everything to the net.”
Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves in the Colorado win.
“My belief is that we just had to keep doing what we were doing and we’d find a way to win the hockey game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I thought ‘Kuemps’ did an amazing job of staying in the game with the way we were limiting shots, especially in the second half of the game, and staying sharp. He ends up making some big saves, a couple in the third and another couple in overtime, for sure, that give us a chance to win that game.”
Yakov Trenin was the lone striker for Nashville, his goal tied the game, 1-1.
Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring in the game, giving the Avs an early 1-0 lead.
“[MacKinnon] lives to compete, and it’s awesome,” Makar said. “Even before our first game, you could see it in morning skate just how amped up he was. He’s a driving force on our team, and it was awesome to see him get that first one.
“And then I feel like the boys just in general built off of that the whole night. So, he definitely started it off and continued it for us, but he’s definitely a different animal in the playoffs and that’s why he’s probably the best player in the world.”
Connor Ingram made 49 saves in the Predators loss.
“I think [Makar’s shot] was the first one all game I didn’t get my eyes on before it got to me, and that’s what happens,” Ingram said.
INgram faced 34 shots over the second and third periods.
“Connor played great,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “He had a great goaltending performance tonight. He made lots of saves at key times, and it was nice to see him be able to play to his ability. I think against a high-powered offensive team, you’re going to need excellent goaltending to win games, and he certainly provided that tonight.”
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