Varlamov's heroics not enough as McDavid outscores Avalanche

It was the return of Nathan MacKinnon on Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Center as the Colorado Avalanche welcomed back their star from injury. It was a bittersweet comeback story as the Avs lost to the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 4-2.

Leading 2-1 at the start of the third period, the Avalanche faced an uphill battle as injuries to Anton Lindholm and Erik Johnson left them trying to protect a lead with just four of their defensemen available to them. The fatigue took its toll as the Oilers began piling up shots.

Those shots resulted in the game-tying goal when Connor McDavid flew down the ice with Leon Draisaitl in front of him and he used the moving screen to beat Semyon Varlamov cleanly to make it 2-2 at 8:59.

Edmonton’s relentless pressure continued as they took advantage of an exhausted Avalanche defense and scored their second goal of the third period with just over six minutes remaining in the game. Ryan Strome was able to fire the puck in off a diving Varlamov, who was out of his net after committing already and was scrambling to get back in. Mike Cammalleri held the puck behind the net as Varlamov laid on the ice and tried to stop the pass but Cammalleri lifted it over him and found an open Strome in the slot. The breakdown in defensive coverage proved fatal for the Avalanche on this day.

McDavid got the hat trick when he scored an empty-net goal at 18:34, making it 4-2 and effectively ending the game and maybe Colorado’s realistic postseason hopes all at once.

Things started off quickly for MacKinnon and the Avalanche as he nearly scored on a wraparound goal in the opening minutes of the first period but a great defensive effort by the Oilers prevented the fun story from developing.

The fun didn’t wait long, however, as Tyson Jost opened the scoring on the afternoon when he took a puck at center ice, broke into the offensive zone and beat goaltender Cam Talbot cleanly to give Colorado the 1-0 lead. Despite being thoroughly outplayed in the first, Colorado held onto their lead into the second.

Once there, the Avalanche cleaned up their sloppy defensive play significantly but were unable to capitalize on their chances. The Oilers took advantage of their chance the other way when McDavid was in the right place at the right time and banged home a rebound that landed perfectly on his stick after Semyon Varlamov stopped the initial offering and just like that it was tied.

It did not remain that way, however, as the Avalanche came right back down a little over a minute later and Alexander Kerfoot continued his charmed season when an Anton Lindholm shot caromed off his body and into the net for his 15th goal of the season. The fortunate bounce reclaimed the lead for the Avalanche and they took it into the third period.

The loss snapped Colorado’s ten-game home winning streak.