Following a scoreless first period - where the Avalanche held an 11-10 shot advantage - Colorado raced out to a 3-0 lead within the first nine minutes of play in the second period. Despite holding a three-goal lead, the Islanders mounted a four-goal comeback scoring three goals in the third period - two of which were netted in the span of 17 seconds.
The Avalanche got the scoring started just 46 seconds into the second period as they had carried over time on the power play that was taken by Islanders centerman Casey Cizikas with 45 seconds left in the first period.
After a dismal 0-for-6 outing on the power play last night against New Jersey, Colorado's man advantage capitalized on its first opportunity against the Islanders - who boasted the top penalty kill in the NHL and had entered Saturday's matchup at a perfect 28-for-28. From the slot, Rodrigues turned a fired a feed from Rantanen past Varlamov to score the game's icebreaker.
Soon after, Colorado received its second power play of the night as Oliver Wahlstrom was called for hooking at 2:44. The Avalanche didn't capitalize and shortly after found themselves on their second penalty kill of the night as Rantanen was called for interference at 5:11. As the Islanders created a netfront scramble off a point shot - and Georgiev made a huge stop on Josh Bailey at the crease - the Avalanche gained possession of the puck and sprung Rantanen for a breakaway as he exited the penalty box. Rantanen wired a wrist shot past Varlamov to double Colorado's lead 2-0 at 7:28.
Just 1:05 later, Colorado extended its lead 3-0 as Rodrigues buried his second goal of the night. The Avalanche winger redirected a shot from Nathan MacKinnon past Varlamov at 8:33.
Despite digging themselves into a 3-0 hole, the pesky Islanders didn't quiet down and trimmed their deficit down 3-1 at 9:53. On a quick transition play - which resulted in the puck getting recycled out to the point for a d-to-d passing sequence. Alexander Romanov snapped over to Dobson, who skated into the top of the right faceoff circle and unleashed a slap shot to the far side of Georgiev.
The Islanders made it a 3-3 tie game by the midway point of the third period. They first made it a one-goal game early in the third period with a strike from Zach Parise. Off a faceoff win, Ryan Pulock fired a shot from the point on net. Parise redirected the puck down and Georgiev made the stop, but couldn't glove down the puck and the Islanders forward jammed it past him to trim Colorado's lead down 3-2.
The Islanders evened the score at 10:39 as they locked the hemmed the Avalanche in their own zone for an extended shift where they weren't able to switch for a line change. As the Islanders cycled the puck around and threw shots on net. While Georgiev came up with big stops, the Islanders' push eventually broke as Mayfield skated to the low slot and redirected a pass from Barzal to tie it up 3-3.
Off the subsequent faceoff and before Mayfield's goal could even be announced, the Islanders charged down the half wall and Beauvillier unleashed a blistering wrist shot past Georgiev to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead at 10:56.
Colorado pulled Georgiev with two minutes left in the game and the Islanders buried an empty-net goal from Nelson at 18:39 to further their lead 5-3.
Despite going down two goals, the Avalanche continued to pull Georgiev in exchange for the extra skater and were successful as Newhook put a goal past Varlamov with 30 seconds left in the game with a shot over his blocker. The effort wasn't enough though, as the Islanders held on for the win and Colorado dropped back-to-back losses.
