Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including the game-winner 2:46 into overtime, to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday. The win marked Colorado's 20th of the season and snapped a one-game skid. Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves for New York in the tight contest at Madison Square Garden.
The Colorado Avalanche improved to 20-2-6 with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers, becoming the first NHL team to reach 20 victories this season. Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the league with 24 goals, opened the scoring in the third period at 15:26 with his first goal, batting in a rebound from Martin Necas' point shot to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. Artemi Panarin tied it at 2-2 with 41.8 seconds left in regulation, firing a one-timer from the left point through traffic with Shesterkin pulled for an extra attacker.
In overtime, MacKinnon collected a pass from Cale Makar near the blue line, danced through the Rangers' defense with slick stickhandling, and roofed a backhand over Shesterkin for the winner. "I think he could have five (goals today)," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I thought Shesterkin robbed him on multiple occasions and on that one, he kind of waited him out."
Parker Kelly had given Colorado a 1-0 lead in the second period at 7:06, deflecting Sam Malinski's shot from the right point. Conor Sheary equalized for New York at 4:23 of the third, cutting across the offensive zone and scoring over Mackenzie Blackwood's glove. Necas recorded three assists, while Blackwood made 24 saves.
The Rangers, now 15-12-3, earned a point in their sixth straight game (5-1-1). "I thought we played a good game," Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought it was a really good hockey game."
Colorado improved to 8-0-3 in their last 11 games against New York. Jonathan Quick was activated from injured reserve and served as backup for Shesterkin.