The Avalanche continued the scoring into the second period with another power play goal at just about the same minute mark as the first period, this time the goal came from Valeri Nichushkin. The Canadiens responded with a goal towards the end of the second frame.
The Canadiens scored its second goal of the game midway through the third period on a power play to tie the game, the only goal for that frame.
The game made it to overtime, and the Avalanche scored just over a minute in with a goal from Gabriel Landeskog.
THE GOALS
1st Period
8:20 COL (0-1) - PPG Both in the left circle, Samuel Girard tapped the puck over to Alex Newhook, who took a slap shot and landed the puck in net.
2nd Period
8:57 COL (0-2) - PPG Samuel Girard brought the puck around the back of the net and gave a quick pass to Valeri Nichushkin who was waiting right in front of the net. All Nichushkin had to do was give the puck a quick tap to get it into the net.
18:17 MTL (1-2) - Nick Suzuki gave a cross ice pass in front of the net to Artturi Lehkonen, who secured a slap shot off one knee for the goal.
3rd Period
8:06 MTL (2-2) - PPG Mike Hoffman took a slap shot from the left circle, the puck took a couple rebounds. Nick Suzuki found the puck opposite Darcy Kuemper and had enough room to tap it in.
Overtime
1:16 COL (2-3) - Valeri Nichushkin gave a short cross ice pass in front of the net to Gabriel Landeskog, who gave the puck a quick shot and landed it in the back of the net.
Final: Avalanche 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
3 STARS
POWER PLAYS
Colorado: 2/4
Montreal: 1/2
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Colorado: Darcy Kuemper allowed 2 goals on 30 shots.
Montreal: Cayden Primeau allowed 3 goals on 46 shots.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Colorado Avalanche pushed its home win streak to 15 games, extending the franchise record.
NOTEBOOK
Tonight's matchup is the first visit to Denver for the Montreal Canadiens since Dec. 19, 2018, 1,129 days ago. The Colorado Avalanche have earned a 27-8-3 record through 38 games this season, the team's best in franchise history. The Avalanche are one of two teams in the NHL without a regulation loss when scoring first, the Edmonton Oilers are the only other team. Devon Toews is fifth (tied) in goals on the list for NHL defensemen with eight on the season, only one short of his career best which was set last season.
ROSTER REPORT
Valeri Nichushkin returned to the starting lineup after entering NHL's COVID protocol on Jan. 17.
INJURY UPDATE
Ryan Murray left the game on Jan. 14 with an upper-body injury. Darren Helm is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Jacob MacDonald remains out with an upper-body injury he sustained on Dec. 12. Stefan Matteau is expected to be out for a few more weeks while he rehabs a lower-body injury from October 2021.
UP NEXT
The Colorado Avalanche continues the home stand with the Chicago Blackhawks visiting on Monday Jan. 24.
LINE COMBINATIONS
Based on the start of the game
Forwards
92 Landeskog - 29 MacKinnon - 96 Rantanen
13 Nichushkin - 91 Kadri - 95 Burakovsky
25 O'Connor - 18 Newhook - 37 Compher
16 Aube-Kubel - 11 Maltsev - 17 Jost
Defensemen
7 Toews - 8 Makar
3 J. Johnson - 49 Girard
56 MacDermid - 6 E. Johnson
Goaltenders
35 Kuemper
39 Francouz
