What was already the NHL’s best power play had perhaps its best stretch all season during a 5-on-3 opportunity on Thursday. At least that’s the way coach Jared Bednar saw it.
“They were hungry to get another one,” Bednar told reporters in Buffalo. “That was the best our PP has looked all year in that 45 seconds.”
Bednar is referring to a two-man advantage Colorado had against the Sabres in the second period. Trailing by a goal, Nathan MacKinnon tied things up, capitalizing after 70 seconds of a dominating 5-on-3. It left 50 seconds of a 5-on-4, and that hunger that Bednar referenced. Artturi Lehkonen scored right before the second penalty expired to give the Avs the lead.
Colorado led the rest of the way and came away with a 6-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
The penalty-filled battle saw both teams score multiple goals on the man advantage. The Avs were 3-for-6 — the opening goal from J.T. Compher also coming on the power play. The Sabres capitalized on 2-of-7 chances, using a power-play goal from Tage Thompson to take a 2-1 lead with just 11 seconds remaining in the opening period.
“Lots of special teams breaking the rhythm of the game,” Bednar said. “Pretty tough standard tonight, I thought, from a couple of the calls.”
Coming off a disappointing shutout loss in Winnipeg two nights prior, the Avs’ big stars were looking to bounce back. MacKinnon, especially, had himself a night. He led the charge with two goals and three assists, recording the fifth five-point effort of his career. Compher also stepped up with two goals and two helpers. Mikko Rantanen (goal, assist) Devon Toews (two assists) and Cale Makar (two assists) also had multiple points.
Compher was perhaps the most complete player of the night. Along with Andrew Cogliano and Logan O’Connor, Compher has been relied on heavily in the defensive zone. He took 32 of the game’s 68 faceoffs — many of which started in Colorado’s end — and won 21 of them. He had just one goal and eight points before his big offensive night and spent more than 11 minutes on the ice in special teams situations.
Compher’s late second-period tally stood as the game-winner.
“It’s not just about scoring, it’s when you score them,” Bednar said.
Alexandar Georgiev was looking for a bounceback after surrendering five goals on 24 shots in Winnipeg. He struggled in some instances again, especially on Buffalo’s first goal where he overcommitted on the initial puck holder, leaving a gaping net for J.J. Peterka to put home an easy one. Georgiev made some big saves along the way, especially when the Avs led 5-4 in the third period. But he ended with another tough night on the stats sheet, stopping 24-of-28 shots.
Georgiev has now given up nine goals on 52 shots through the first two games of the Avs’ four-game road trip. His save percentage has dropped from .933 to .922 as a result.
“He was okay tonight,” Bednar said. “We’ve set a really high standard for his play. Winnipeg wasn’t great, tonight was better for sure.
