Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri had a goal and two assists each, and the visiting Colorado Avalanche used three power-play goals to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar contributed a goal and an assist apiece while Darcy Kuemper stopped 32 shots for Colorado, which has won three straight.
Tucker Poolman had a goal and an assist, Conor Garland also scored and Thatcher Demko made 26 saves for Vancouver. The Canucks have lost five in a row (0-4-1).
The game was tied early in the third period when the Avalanche got the game-winner on the power play. Devon Toews sent a pass to Makar above the left circle, and Makar one-timed a slapshot that beat Demko on the short side at 3:12. It was his third goal of the season.
Vancouver pulled Demko late in the third, and Landeskog scored into an empty net at 19:49. It was his sixth of the campaign.
The Canucks went in front for the first time early in the third period. Poolman, who returned from a two-game suspension for his high stick against Colorado last week, took a shot from the point that Kuemper initially saved. However, the puck went up and over him, and Kuemper knocked it in as he tried to cover it up in the crease at 1:27.
It was Poolman’s first of the season.
The Avalanche got even soon after on a power play. Colorado got control of the puck in the offensive zone, and Rantanen took a shot from the left circle that Demko saved, but the rebound went to his right. Kadri then knocked it in after Demko stopped Landeskog’s shot at 2:19.
Kadri notched his fifth goal of the season.
Rantanen gave the Avalanche the early lead on a power play when he beat Demko on a wrister at 7:17 of the first period for his sixth of the season.
Vancouver got even in the second period when Garland knocked in a rebound sitting in the Colorado crease at 8:52. It was his fourth goal of the season.
Related: NHL power rankings – Colorado and Florida clinch, Bolts cool down
–Field Level Media