Celebrate Vegas Golden Knights 2021 June 2

Mikko Rantanen scored his second career playoff overtime goal to give the Colorado Avalanche a 2-0 series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avs earned a 3-2 win in Game 2 at Ball Arena on Wednesday.
Philipp Grubauer made a postseason career-high 39 saves in the contest, including 15 in the third period.
Brandon Saad scored the first of the game in the opening period, extending his goal streak to five contests. Vegas' Alec Martinez knotted the outing at 9:32 of the frame before Tyson Jost regained the lead for the Avalanche on the power play before the first intermission. Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith tallied the only goal of the second period.
It was the Avalanche's first overtime game of the playoffs and the franchise is now 41-31 all-time, with a 31-22 mark since 1995-96.

Colorado improved to 6-0 this postseason, the first time in franchise history the team has started with six straight wins. The six consecutive victories set the Colorado record (since 1995-96) for a winning streak at any point of a playoff year, and it ties the franchise mark of six straight set by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 postseason.

THE GOALS

1st Period
3:39 COL (1-0) - On a rush, Brandon Saad's shot from the left circle went five-hole and into the net.
9:32 VGK (1-1) - PPG, Alec Martinez scored with a one-timer from the right circle on the power play.
17:08 COL (2-1) - PPG, Tyson Jost scored blocker side from the slot while on the man advantage.
2nd Period
10:28 VGK (2-2) - Reilly Smith tied the game with a backhand shot on a rush up ice.
3rd Period
No Scoring
Overtime
2:07 COL (3-2) - PPG, After drawing the penalty, Mikko Rantanen scored on the power play from the right circle.
Final: Avalanche - 3 | Golden Knights - 2 (OT)

3 STARS

Selected by Colorado Hockey Coach of the Game: Randy Kanai - Colorado Amatuer Hockey Association

POWER PLAYS

Colorado: 2 for 6
Vegas: 1 for 3

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Colorado: Philipp Grubauer stopped a playoff career-high 39 shots.
Vegas: Marc-Andre Fleury made his series debut and 22 saves.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Brandon Saad scored for the fifth game in a row, setting a new record for his longest goal streak in the playoffs or regular season. His previous mark was four contests in a row from May 26-June 1, 2014, with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Saad's five-game streak is tied for the third-longest in franchise playoff history. His run matches Michel Goulet's with the Quebec Nordiques in 1984-85 and trails only Claude Lemieux (seven, 1996-97) and Joe Sakic (seven, 1995-96).

NOTEBOOK

Philipp Grubauer is now 6-0 this postseason, the longest win streak to start a playoff year in franchise history. It also sets a new mark for the longest playoff win streak at any point in Avalanche history, besting Patrick Roy's record of five in a row that he set on three occasions… Grubauer also ties the franchise mark of six straight playoff wins by Quebec's Mario Gosselin in 1987... Mikko Rantanen scored his second career playoff goal, extending his postseason point streak to 16 games... Samuel Girard had assists on Colorado's first two goals, tying his postseason high. It is the fourth time in his playoff career that he has recorded two helpers in a game… Girard is on a three-game assist streak… Tyson Jost scored his second goal of the postseason and has four points (two goals, two assists) in six games… Colorado tallied twice on the power play and is now 10-for-23 with the man advantage in the playoffs... The Avalanche played its first overtime game of the postseason and the franchise is now 41-31 with a 31-22 mark since 1995-96... The Avalanche improved to 6-0 this postseason, the first time in franchise history the team has started with six straight wins. The six consecutive victories set the Colorado record (since 1995-96) for the longest winning streak at any point of a playoff year, and it ties the franchise mark of six straight set by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987... The Avs are 4-0 at home this postseason and going back to the regular season have won 13 straight at Ball Arena. They are 20-0-1 in their last 21 contests on home ice.

BIG HIGHLIGHT

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      VGK@COL, Gm2: Grubauer denies Tuch with glove save

      IMAGE OF THE GAME

      Shoot Your Shot.

      Nathan MacKinnon shooting Vegas Golden Knights 2021 June 2

      ROSTER REPORT

      The Avalanche utilized the same lineup as it did in Game 1 with Philipp Grubauer once again starting in net.

      INJURY UPDATE

      • Matt Calvert (upper body): Out long term and is doubtful to return this year after having surgery; last played on March 23 at Arizona.
      • Pavel Francouz (lower body): Expected to return fully healthy next season after having surgery earlier this year; hurt during practice on Jan. 18.
      • Erik Johnson (upper body): Has been skating on his own or in small groups and could possibly return later in the playoffs depending on how he progresses; last played on Jan. 30 at Minnesota.
      • Logan O'Connor (lower body): Has been skating on his own and with the team's Black Aces (practice squad) after having surgery and is ahead of schedule, according to head coach Jared Bednar; last played on March 31 vs. Arizona.

      UP NEXT

      The series shifts to Las Vegas for Games 3-4 at T-Mobile Arena. The third outing of the best-of-seven set is scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. MT and the fourth contest will take place on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. MT.

      LINE COMBINATIONS

      Based on start of the game
      Forwards
      92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
      20 Brandon Saad - 17 Tyson Jost - 13 Valeri Nichushkin
      95 Andre Burakovsky - 37 J.T. Compher - 72 Joonas Donskoi
      75 Sampo Ranta - 41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 18 Alex Newhook
      Defensemen
      7 Devon Toews - 8 Cale Makar
      49 Samuel Girard - 27 Ryan Graves
      24 Patrik Nemeth - 22 Conor Timmins
      Goaltenders
      31 Philipp Grubauer
      40 Devan Dubnyk