Burakovsky scored again in the beginning of the third period, and for a third time in the middle of the third notching his first hat trick of the season.
Jacob MacDonald left the ice after taking a hit during the second period. He is alert, responsive and has full movement. He will receive further evaluation.
THE GOALS
1st Period
No Goals
2nd Period
19:37 COL (1-0) PP: Nathan MacKinnon carried the puck into the zone and made a drop pass to Mikko Rantanen who cut to the middle of the ice for a backhand pass across the high slot to Andre Burakovsky who buried the puck top shelf on Sergei Bobrovsky.
3rd Period
2:03 COL (2-0): After a whiffed chance by Florida, Andre Burakovsky picked up the puck and chipped it up through the neutral zone to Mikko Rantanen who carried the puck into the zone to find Burakovsky streaking in from the point. Burakovsky then made a quick backhand move and shot the puck through Bobrovsky.
7:41 FLA (2-1) PP: Frank Vatrano passed the puck down to Carter Verhaeghe near the goal line who sent it across the crease to Joe Thorton for a one-timer goal.
10:15 FLA (2-2): Gustav Forsling banked the puck off the neutral zone boards to Carter Verhaeghe who held the puck at the point to find Brandon Montour entering the zone who took a hard wrist shot from the slot passed a screen and in the net.
11:43 COL (3-2): Mikko Rantanen forced a turnover in their defensive zone and made a lead pass to Nathan MacKinnon who sped through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone for a drop pass to Andre Burakovsky who cut to the middle and rifled the puck top corner on Bobrovsky.
Final:
COL 3 | FLA 2
3 STARS
POWER PLAYS
Colorado: 1/2
Florida: 1/4
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Colorado: Darcy Kuemper saved 30 of 32 shots on goal.
Florida: Sergei Bobrovsky allowed 3 of 26 shots on goal.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Andre Burakovsky scored his first hat trick of the season. Mikko Rantanen notched his 200th assist of his career.
NOTEBOOK
Devon Toews
(two assists) has registered his fourth straight multi-point game, tying the franchise record for consecutive multi-point games by a defenseman set by Jeff Brown Nov. 12-19, 1988… Friday's game versus Detroit was the sixth consecutive home game with 5 or more goals for tying the franchise record. The Nordiques scored five-plus goals in six straight home games from Feb. 26 to March 24, 1983 and again from Dec 4-22, 1985.
ROSTER REPORT
J.T. Compher
make his return to the team since being sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained on Nov. 13. Jayson Megna has been reassigned to the American League Hockey affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Pavel Francouz has made his return to the Colorado Avalanche from the Eagles.
INJURY UPDATE
Bowen Byram
remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Nazem Kadri
is slated as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, unrelated to the lower-body injury he sustained earlier this season.
UP NEXT
The Colorado Avalanche play at Ball arena for its last game on this homestand against the New York Rangers.
LINE COMBINATIONS
Based on the start of the game
Forwards
95 Burakovsky - 29 MacKinnon - 96 Rantanen
13 Nichushkin - 18 Newhook - 25 O'Connor
17 Jost - 37 Compher - 16 Aube-Kubel
43 Helm - 11 Maltsev - 56 MacDermid
Defensemen
7 Toews - 8 Makar
6 E. Johnson - 49 Girard
3 J. Johnson - 26 Macdonald
Goaltenders
35 Kuemper
39 Francouz
