MacKinnon Nets 5 Points as Avalanche Beat Canucks 5-4 in Overtime
VANCOUVER — Gavin Brindley scored 68 seconds into overtime, securing a 5-4 NHL victory for the Colorado Avalanche over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.
Jake DeBrusk of Vancouver forced the overtime by deflecting a Brock Boeser pass during a power play with just 3:01 left in the third period.
Key Performances for Colorado Avalanche
- Artturi Lehkonen scored twice in the third period, including one power-play goal.
- Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in just 1:28, including a power-play goal, and added three assists, finishing with five points in the game.
- Valeri Nichushkin contributed two assists.
- Cale Makar, the league's top-scoring defenseman with 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists), provided two assists.
Vancouver Canucks Scoring Highlights
- Drew O’Connor scored short-handed.
- Linus Karlsson scored on an impressive between-the-legs play.
- Kiefer Sherwood added his team-leading 10th goal off a turnover.
Both teams entered the game following wins on Saturday: Vancouver defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3, and Colorado dominated the Edmonton Oilers 9-1.
Goalie Performances
- Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen, starting for the second straight night, stopped 27 shots.
- Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves.
Vancouver’s regular goaltender, Thatcher Demko, was sidelined and did not dress for the second consecutive game after missing practice Friday.
"Gavin Brindley scored 68 seconds into overtime to give the Colorado Avalanche a 5-4 NHL win over the Vancouver Canucks."
Author's summary: Nathan MacKinnon’s five-point effort propelled the Avalanche to a narrow overtime win against the Canucks, showcasing key performances from both sides in a tightly contested game.