Compher scores two shorthanded on same power play, Avalanche top Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. --J.T. Compher scored two shorthanded goals on the same power play in the first period for the Colorado Avalanche in a 5-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Friday.

Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog each had a goal and an assist, Nathan MacKinnon had two assists, and Philipp Grubauer made 37 saves for Colorado (12-6-4), which has won three straight and five of its past six (5-0-1).
"It was a fun one, for sure," Compher said.
WATCH: [All Avalanche vs. Coyotes highlights]
Dylan Strome scored for Arizona (9-10-2), which has lost three straight (0-2-1) and has scored two or fewer goals in five straight. Antti Raanta made 34 saves after missing eight games with a lower-body injury.
Compher, who was playing for the first time since Oct. 13 because of a head injury, beat Raanta blocker side with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 7:28.
"I've been working hard these last few weeks once I started feeling better, to get into hockey shape and feel confident about my game, and I think I was able to show off a bit of it," Compher said. "I was just trying to go out and help the team and get comfortable."

Compher made it 2-0 at 8:53 after intercepting a pass by Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and scoring just under the crossbar on a breakaway.
"We were trying to play with speed, force them into uncomfortable positions and get turnovers," Compher said.
Compher became the 20th player in NHL history to score two shorthanded goals in a span of two minutes or less since 1933-34, and the fourth to do it in the past 15 years, joining Michael Grabner (2013-14), Tobias Rieder (2014-15) and Chris Tierney (2017-18).
"You don't see that very often," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I think it's the first time anyone in our organization has done it and that's pretty impressive, and that gets us started. Then Mikko follows it up with a big goal to kind of build the lead."
Rantanen extended the lead to 3-0 at 9:39. Following a turnover by Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun, Rantanen received a loft pass from Landeskog and scored glove side on a breakaway.
"It was three shots, 3-0 and the game was pretty much over," Raanta said. "A rough start for sure and the game is pretty much over. You give three goals in three shots, you're pretty much burying your whole team."

Tyson Barrie scored to make it 4-0 at 6:11 of the third period. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak.
"It wasn't even close," Coyotes forward Derek Stepan said. "It wasn't even close to playing an NHL game, and we paid the price very heavily."
Strome cut it to 4-1 on the power play at 13:02, but Landeskog scored a power-play goal on a rebound in the crease to make it 5-1 at 15:41.
"It was a pretty good all-around game for us," Bednar said. "I think we're doing a better job defensively, we're turning the puck back so we have it a little more, and when they got good looks, [Grubauer] was rock solid and didn't give up any rebounds."

They said it

"Watching those guys every night (while he was injured) has been a real treat. You get to appreciate it more when you're watching the whole game. Those guys compete night in and night out and it leads our team." -- Avalanche forward J.T. Compher on Colorado's top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen

"We've got to be prepared when the puck drops and realize where we are in the standings. We have a good shot to push for a [Stanley Cup Playoff] spot, and we can't come out like that if we want to be a playoff team." -- Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Need to know

Colorado's top line of Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen has combined for 37 goals and 94 points this season. MacKinnon has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past five games. Landeskog has five points (two goals, three assists) in the past three games. Rantanen has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in the past six games. … Colorado outscored its opponents 16-7 during its three-game road trip. … The Avalanche had scored one shorthanded goal this season coming into the game. The Coyotes lead the NHL with 10 shorthanded goals. … Coyotes forward Clayton Keller hasn't scored a goal in his past 11 games.

What's next

Avalanche: Host the Dallas Stars on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-SW+, NHL.TV)
Coyotes: Host the Calgary Flames on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; SN, FS-A, NHL.TV)