Avalanche Turning Point: Powerplay Stops The Bleeding (+)

In the Turning Point, we’ll take a look at one moment in the previous Colorado Avalanche game that changed the momentum of the game.

The Avalanche were falling apart in the third period against the Coyotes. A poor penalty by Arizona gave the Avalanche just enough life to stop the bleeding.

Quick Entry + Quick Passing

Nathan MacKinnon is still a cheat code entering the zone on the powerplay, even when he isn’t having his best game. Within four seconds, all five players on the ice touch the puck to create a good opportunity for Rantanen. Even though the Avalanche didn’t have any momentum going in the third period, they needed a good powerplay to get something back, and this entry started that.

Fighting to Hold On

The next 15 seconds were a bit of a cluster, just trying to do enough to hold onto possession of the puck for another chance. MacKinnon beats his man to the puck in the corner, and then bodies off the other penalty killer, not allowing him to poke it away.

Nichushkin rings it around to Rantanen, who sends a rolling puck slowly back to Toews. Not wanting to turn it over, Toews just whips it back down, and it bounces over Rantanen’s stick. Nichushkin gets to it first, and looks like he’s either trying to send it all the way around to MacKinnon. He doesn’t get much on it, and the puck just dies.

Rantanen’s Wizardry

From here, the passing of Mikko Rantanen takes over. He makes a calm saucer pass off the boards back to Toews, and all the chasing the Coyotes were doing seems to have completely worn them down, because they’re out of position. Toews quickly sends it back to Rantanen, and without any hesitation, Rantanen fires it in front for Nichushkin. To Nichushkin’s credit, he sees Rantanen get the puck and immediately backs off the near post a bit and gets his stick on the ice. The puck hits that stick and gives the Avalanche the lead…for the moment.

Sure, they gave the lead back up against a few minutes, but this goal at least gave them some breathing room, because without it, I’m not sure they walk away with a win.