Written By The Colorado Avalanche staged an impressive comeback to tie the first-round playoff series with the Seattle Kraken at two games apiece, thanks to a clutch goal from defenseman Devon Toews.
The Avs fell behind early in the first period when Kraken forward Jared McCann scored on the power play. But Colorado quickly responded with two goals of their own, coming from forwards Mikko Rantanen and Andre Burakovsky.
Seattle battled back in the second period, tying the game on goals from McCann and defenseman Adam Larsson. The Kraken then took the lead early in the third period when forward Jaden Schwartz scored his third goal of the series.
But the Avs refused to go down without a fight. With less than three minutes left in regulation, Toews fired a shot from the point that beat Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer to tie the game at four.
The game remained tied through the end of regulation, and both teams had chances in overtime. But it was Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon who finally ended the game with a highlight-reel goal, driving around Kraken defenseman Mark Giordano and roofing a shot over Grubauer’s shoulder.
The win gives the Avs new life in the series, which had looked to be slipping away after Seattle’s two wins at home. Colorado will have a chance to take the series lead in Game 5, which will be played at Ball Arena in Denver.
Toews, who missed the first three games of the series due to injury, was a key factor in the Avs’ win. His goal and two assists were a big boost to Colorado’s offense, and his strong play in his own end helped keep the Kraken from running away with the game.
The Avs will need Toews and the rest of their defense to continue playing at a high level if they hope to advance past the first round of the playoffs. They’ll also need more strong performances from Rantanen and MacKinnon, who have been the team’s offensive leaders all season.
But for now, the Avs can enjoy the fact that they’re back in the series and have a chance to move one step closer to the Stanley Cup. Game 5 is sure to be a tense affair, with both teams fighting for their playoff lives.
