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Avalanche fumble three-goal lead over Vegas Golden Knights

  
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William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on April 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo courtesy of David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)

After last night’s 7–0 loss against the Winnipeg Jets, the rest of the season was not looking optimistic for the Colorado Avalanche. A fumble after a three-goal lead the day after such a defeat certainly did not put the team on the right track before playoffs.

In their last ten games, the team sat at a 4–5–1 record with only two games remaining.

The presence on the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights was a night and day difference, and it all started in the first period. Throughout the season, the Avalanche has had ten comeback wins when trailing by two or more goals, so momentum has always been the key to Colorado victories.

The good

As opposed to the game against the Jets, Colorado looked cohesive as a team. Every line was putting in the work, and Ross Colton was the first to be rewarded by a margin of mere inches.

He lit the lamp by beating Vegas’ Adin Hill and sending the puck between the post and Hill’s pad at the seven-minute mark.

Three minutes later, Cale Makar brought the Avalanche up by two on a wrist shot from a feed from Nathan MacKinnon.

The real test would be holding the lead, especially with playoffs around the corner against Winnipeg.

Alexandar Georgiev sat tall in the net for the first two periods, coming up big with several dangerous situations in front of him. As of late, he has been in a slump and was pulled from the Winnipeg game after allowing four goals.

A feel-good game would undoubtedly boost his confidence, and it would not have come at a better time.

By the time the second period started, the offensive identity showed. Mikko Rantanen redirected a shot from Josh Manson to put the team in a comfortable 3–0 lead.

Even after three unanswered goals from Vegas, the team did not shut down. The competitive and “never give up” mindset will be invaluable in the first round playoff series.

The bad

To start the game, there wasn’t much to complain about. The team put up 11 shots to six from the Golden Knights in the first and survived all 11 of the Golden Knights’ shot attempts.

A successful challenge from Jared Bednar sustained the 2–0 lead after a missed goalie interference call in the first frame.

The third period left much to be desired. Ivan Barbashev put one on the board at the three-minute mark, but a two-goal margin should have been sufficient to survive the remaining 17 minutes.

A power play goal from Vegas sliced the margin to two, and ten minutes later, William Karlsson landed a goal on the top left side of the net to tie the game at three.

In the third period, Colorado put up a measly two shots to their opponent’s 11, an alarming switch from the first 40 minutes of play.

A strong start gave Colorado a good look, but if they have a breakdown in the last frame, opponents will exploit it in the post-season run and all but guarantee a first-round exit.

The game came down to an aggressive overtime performance, but a high-sticking penalty from Josh Manson left the team at a severe disadvantage in another crucial game.

The Golden Knights wasted no time netting a goal on the man-advantage, bringing the game to a brutal end.

In the end, Colorado fumbled when it mattered most. The team recorded four total shots in the last frame and overtime, a completely unacceptable performance this late into the season.

What’s next?

The Avalanche are still in the running for the home ice advantage, but they now leave their fate in the hands of the Jets.

A win on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers will put them in a good spot, but it would also require Winnipeg to lose their games against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and against the Canucks on Thursday.

The last meeting between the Oilers and Avalanche yielded a 6–2 loss and gave Edmonton the go-ahead to playoffs.

The regular season finale will be vital to Colorado, but their current track record is worrisome. Their scoring frequently depends on the first line and the defensive breakdowns and the type of goals allowed are unfavorable at best.

Game recap

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About Savvy Rafkin

Savvy is a recent Journalism and Media Communication graduate from Colorado State University. She spent most of her life playing softball and being surrounded by sports. As she entered college, she found her passion for sports writing and joined the Colorado State University Athletic Communications team. Later, she became a beat reporter for high school sports in northern Colorado.

     

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