The Colorado Avalanche are finally back. After starting the season 0-4, the 2022 Stanley Cup champions picked up their first win in overtime over the Anaheim Ducks. The Avs are only 2 seasons away from their championship. They are still considered one of the favorites to win the cup year in and year out, so seeing them begin the season losing their first four games was unexpected and disappointing. After major adversity and a hard-fought effort, they finally won a game this season and have developed momentum for future games.
Things did not look so bright after the first period as Leo Carlsson and Ryan Strome put the Ducks up 2-0 in the first 20 minutes. The Avalanche entered the first intermission with a major deficit which must have felt especially difficult considering they were winless and on their way to another loss. However, early into the second period, Casey Mittlestadt cut the lead in half giving the Avalanche some hope. They continued to outplay the Ducks for the remainder of the period and they entered the second intermission down one goal. The commentary crew pointed out that the Avalanche are doing all the right things; they just need to sustain the pressure and eventually, a goal will come. And so it did.
Less than a minute into the third period, Ross Colton fired a one-timer past Dostal to tie the game. The pressure finally paid off and the Avs were rewarded for their play. Around 10 minutes later, the Avalanche applied more pressure in the Ducks zone with their top line on the ice. Mikko Rantanen made a phenomenal play in the corner and made a no-look pass from behind the net setting up Ross Colton who buried his second of the game. The Avalanche came back from down two goals, to winning late in the third period. But this was not the end.
The Ducks pulled their goalie for an extra skater to apply some final pressure and push for a goal late in the game. Avalanche defensemen did a great job blocking shots and goaltender Alex Georgiev did his part to stop pucks from going in. However, with only 13 seconds to go in the game, Troy Terry fired a wrist shot from the hash marks that beat Gorgiev and tied the game 3-3. Time expired and the game went on to overtime.
The Avalanche pressured tremendously throughout the entire period and they even had some opportunities on the powerplay, but Dostal was standing tall stopping every shot. With 40 seconds to go, as the top line was getting off the ice, Nathan MacKinnon made a tremendous individual effort to break through the Ducks defense and he put the puck past Stolarz to win the game. The reigning MVP is known for leading by example and this was an outstanding demonstration of what a leader does when his team needs him most.
After a shaky start, the Avalanche finally seem to have returned to form. With a big road trip coming up, they now have a win and can focus on playing their game without stressing over their losing streak.
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