Toews scores in OT, Avalanche rally past Rangers

DENVER – Devon Toews scored at 4:23 of overtime to help the Colorado Avalanche rally for a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers at Ball Arena on Tuesday.

“[Logan O’Connor] makes that whole play happen with his relentless forecheck,” Toews said. “That play does not happen without him on the ice. So, he sets that goal up and makes it all happen. I just was on the scoring end of it, but that's his goal. He did all the work on that one.”

Toews ended it with a one-timer from the right circle. The goal came after Artturi Lehkonen tied it 2-2 with 1:13 left in the third period, tapping in a rebound at the right post after Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin failed to hold on to a one-timer from Mikko Rantanen during 6-on-5 play.

“[Lehkonen] doesn't score because he's the most skilled guy, the biggest, strongest, fastest guy. He scores because he's an intelligent hockey player and he gives you maximum effort all the time,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “He's in tune with the structure of the game.”

Parker Kelly also scored, and Nathan MacKinnon had two assists for the Avalanche (27-17-1), who have won three of their past five games. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves.

“He was fantastic. He was best player on the ice [for] either team,” Bednar said of Blackwood. "You'll get zero points if he's not the best player on the ice.”

Blackwood made three saves during overtime and helped Colorado kill an interference penalty taken by Rantanen 45 seconds into the extra period. He is 9-2-1 with a 1.68 goals-against average and .938 save percentage since he was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9.

“Sometimes the games take shape and they're a little quieter, and sometimes they're a little busier,” Blackwood said. “As a goalie, you don't control the game at all, you're kind of just in your own little world back there, kind of reacting to the shape that the game takes on.”

Sam Carrick had a goal and an assist, and Adam Edstrom also scored for the Rangers (20-20-3), who had won two straight and have points in five in a row (3-0-2). Shesterkin made 23 saves.

“They competed and did everything we wanted to do for 58 minutes. It's really difficult walking away and not getting that extra point,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “Tie it up, and even in overtime [had] looks and chances to win the game. We didn't get it done. So, it's frustrating.”

Kelly scored to give Colorado a 1-0 lead at 4:53 of the first period with a wrist shot from the right circle that went far side past Shesterkin’s blocker.

“We'll take the points, but unimpressive,” said Bednar. “That's it. Sums up everything.

“We had a practice yesterday that I didn't love, and then tonight, we're terrible as a team. Again, some guys were great, some guys were OK, lots of guys were no good.”

Carrick tied it 1-1 with a short-handed goal at 11:55. He collected the puck when Cale Makar lost the handle on a shot, skated in alone and deked Blackwood before putting it in at the right post.

“I have only a select few moves that I usually do in practice, so that was one of them, and thankfully it worked out,” said Carrick. “I thought overall, it was a pretty good effort. It's not an easy building to come in and play, and I thought our guys battled hard.”

Edstrom took a lead pass from Carrick on a 2-on-1 rush and scored with a wrist shot from the slot to put the Rangers ahead 2-1 at 9:59 of the second.

“They were good. They've been good,” Laviolette said of Carrick and Edstrom. “Sam’s playing really hard and he's playing well, contributing. They had a big night.”

NOTES: MacKinnon became the first player to reach 70 points this season (15 goals, 55 assists in 45 games). … With an assist on Kelly’s goal, Makar reached 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists in 45 games) for the fifth time in his career, which moved him past Sandis Ozolinsh for the most 50-point seasons for a defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques history. … Rangers defenseman Adam Fox played in his 400th NHL game.