In Denver, Matt Nieto, Nathan MacKinnon and Logan O’Connor scored third period goals for the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-1 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
The three goals capped a four-goal string that the Avs reeled out after the Oilers had taken a 1-0 first period lead.
“We found a way to get a spark in the third,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. “We played a real good period to win the game. We stuck with it. We didn’t have a great start, but to be able to stick with it and have faith to keep playing our game and execute the game plan we were able to create enough chances to win the hockey game.”
Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves to pick up the win.
Jujhar Khaira scored for Edmonton in the opening frame for the early 1-0 lead.
“Other than the goaltender and the [5-for-5] penalty killing, to play like we did was unacceptable,” Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said. “We didn’t play hard enough, and we didn’t play smart enough.”
Nazem Kadri got the rally started when he tied the game in the middle frame.
“That was huge,” Nieto said. “In-between periods after the second, we came in here and just talked about how if we just stay on their [defense] and continue to forecheck hard, then the chances are going to come. That was just a great example of the team sticking with it.”
[WATCH: All Oilers vs. Avalanche highlights]
Mikko Koskinen made 46 saves in a busy loss.
“There’s no excuses. [Koskinen] played an unbelievable game and held us in the whole way through and we let him down in the third period. It’s as simple as that,” the Oilers’ Darnell Nurse said.
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