Tuesday's win featured a two-goal performance by Nathan MacKinnon as well as strikes from J.T. Compher (1G, 1A), Josh Manson, Darren Helm (1G, 1A) and Artturi Lehkonen also scored.
Devon Toews recorded a three-point performance with three assists, while Mikko Rantanen andAndre Burakovsky each posted two-point outings with two assists a piece. Darcy Kuemper made 41 saves on 45 shots in the win.
THE SCORING:
1st Period:
2:45 - COL 1, PIT 0 - Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring as he centered a pass from below the hash marks to the slot and it redirected off the stick of a Pittsburgh defenseman. Andre Burakovsky and Mikko Rantanen collected the assists.
5:30 - PIT 1, COL 1 -The Penguins respond in transition as Bryan Rust buried Kuemper's pad save he initially made on Marcus Pettersson's shot. Jake Guentzel also notched an assist.
2nd Period
9:53 - COL 2, PIT 1 -J.T. Compher put in a rebound off Alex Newhook's iniati attempt to restore the Avalanche with the lead. Devon Toews also registered an assist.
12:00 - COL 3, PIT 1 - Nathan MacKinnon scored his second goal of the game as he extended the Avalanche's lead 3-1 as he fired a shot from the high slot past Tristan Jarry.
17:43 - COL 3, PIT 2 - A quick drive to the net by Evan Rodrigues created a netfront scrum where his initial attempt squeaked over the goal line to cut Pittsburgh's deficit down to one goal.
3rd Period
1:01 - COL 4, PIT 2 -Josh Manson fired a slap shot from the point that flew through traffic and over Jarry's stick side to extend Colorado's lead 4-2. Devon Toews and J.T. Compher picked up the assists.
15:03 - COL 5, PIT 2 - Darren Helm buried his shot shortside of Jarry on an odd-man rush to further Colorado's lead 5-2. Logan O'Connor tallied the assist.
18:36 - COL 5, PIT 3 -Jake Guentzel redirected a shot past Kuemper to trim the Penguins' deficit down 5-3. Jeff Carter and Evgeni Malkin notched assists.
19:07 - COL 6, PIT 3, ENG -Artturi Lehkonen sealed a long-range shot into the Penguins' empty net.
19:29 - COL 6, PIT 4 - The Penguins striked back as Mike Matheson scored. Danton Heinen and Brian Boyle recorded the assists.
Final: COL 5, PIT 2
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Avalanche were 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
The Penguins were 0-for-2 on the power play.
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Darcy Kuemper made 41 saves on 45 shots for the Avalanche.
Tristan Jarry made 26 saves on 31 shots for the Penguins.
NOTEBOOK
Both Finnish forwards Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen skated in their respective 400-career games… Kuemper made his 49th start of the season and improved his record to 33-9-3… MacKinnon buried his 23rd and 24th goals of the season… Compher tallied his 14th goal of the season and also dished out an assist… Josh Manson scored his fifth goal of the season and his first goal as a member of the Avalanche… Darren Helm scored his seventh goal of the season... Rantanen posted a two-point outing with two assists and in doing so eclipsed the 400-career point (164G, 236A) milestone… Lehkonen scored his 14th goal of the season... Andre Burakovsky also handed out two assists… Devon Toews posted a three-point outing with his three assists… Bowen Byram returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 10 and was paired on defense with Erik Johnson…
INJURY UPDATE:
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is sidelined after undergoing knee surgery. Samuel Girard is sidelined with a lower-body injury. Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin also did not play.
PHOTO OF THE GAME:
HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME:
