Nathan MacKinnon supplied the dagger at 8:27 of sudden-death overtime as the Avalanche took a 3-2 win on Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome to even the best-of-seven series at one game apiece. Rasmus Andersson and Sean Monahan had the goals for Calgary, while Mike Smith had another sensational outing, stopping 36 of 39 shots in the contest. Monahan's goal put the Flames ahead 2-1 in the back half of the third period, but - with Avs goalie Phillip Grubauer on the bench for the extra-attacker - J.T. Compher tied the game on a goalmouth scramble with 2:39 to play, setting the stage for MacKinnon's winner. Matt Nieto had the other goal for the Avalanche. "It's a transition game, right?" said head coach Bill Peters prior to the team's flight to Denver. "You're transitioning all the time, continually, for 60, 65, 70 minutes, whatever it was, minutes. Offence to defence, defence to offence. That's the art of playing fast. They were quicker. That's the way the game works."
On Sunday, the Avalanche and 2017 fourth-overall pick Cale Maker put pen to paper on a three-year entry-level contract. The Calgary native is coming off an incredible sophomore season at the University of Massachusetts, winning the 2019 Hobey Baker Award and helping the Minutemen reach the NCAA Frozen Four Championship Game. Makar, 20, could make his NHL debut tonight with the status of fellow defenceman Samuel Girard still in question. Girard left Saturday's tilt early in OT after taking a hit from Sam Bennett, skating off under his own power but clearly favouring his left shoulder.
