Bjugstad and Coyotes secure third consecutive win in thrilling OT victory over Avalanche

Colorado’s Cale Makar netted a goal and an assist, while Mikko Rantanen tallied two assists and Nathan MacKinnon and Miles Wood also found the back of the net for the Avalanche (15-6-1), who had been on a four-game winning streak and had won seven of their last eight games. Alexandar Georgiev made 29 saves for the opposing team.

“I didn’t think we played our best tonight, so to able to come back in the third after giving up some goals that we didn’t like and squaring it … we almost survived it,” commented Colorado coach Jared Bednar. “Would have loved to have two points out of it, but we’ll take the one and learn from it.”

Although the Avalanche held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 at various points, they ultimately fell behind 3-2 and missed out on what would have been their ninth comeback win of the season.

“We hung in there and came back and gave ourselves an opportunity but, at the end of the day, we just couldn’t finish the job,” said forward Logan O’Connor. “I think we definitely let it slip away.”

Bjugstad scored three seconds after a power play resulting from Bowen Byram’s slashing penalty ended, and before Colorado could get fresh players on the ice.

“He (forward Matias Maccelli) gave me the puck and I kind of jammed away and tried to get it on net,” Bjugstad explained. “We created scoring chances [on the power play] and kind of wore their [defensemen] down. I don’t know if they got caught out there tired, but we had possession and gained momentum.”

Bednar mentioned that, while down a man, the Avalanche were attempting to block off the middle of the ice.

“They made a nice play to get it down low and probably a nicer move to bring it to the net,” Bednar stated. “There was a rebound sitting there and we got a couple of sticks on it. It’s just unfortunate.”