INSTANT REACTION: Avs third period rally highlights 5-3 win on throwback night in Raleigh

The old Adams Division matchup is back for the second and final time this season as both the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes don jerseys representing their history, the Avs wearing their iconic Quebec Nordiques throwbacks and the Canes paying homage to the Hartford Whalers with a white and green uniform.

This game was… a doozy.

The Canes get ahead of this game first after a back-and-forth game from these two teams. Ultimately, Sebastian capitalizes on spotty coverage from Cale Makar in the neutral zone to create a breakaway and beats Scott Wedgewood five-hole. Canes head into first intermission up by one.

Gabe Landeskog gives the Avs life early in the second period to even things up, but that life doesn’t last very long. Offseason acquisition Nikolaj Ehlers converts on the Canes’ power play, courtesy of a goaltender interference call on Zakhar Bardakov, to get his 10th of the season and gain the lead back for Carolina. Andrei Svechnikov cushions the lead with some nifty moves in front of Wedgewood with Devon Toews on his side.

The third period was a special one for this Avs team.

Brock Nelson, recently named to Team USA’s men’s ice hockey roster, tips a puck from in front of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen on the power play to get things going for the final frame. Less than a minute later, Jack Drury nets one against his former team to get the lead.

Lo and behold, though, the power play converts twice – not just in the same game, but in the same period – thanks again to Nelson. This gave the Avs their first lead of the night.

Nathan MacKinnon gets tied up on the way to score an empty-net goal, and gets awarded with the goal after getting dragged down.

That’s where things will end, the Avs starting their roadtrip off strong with a 5-3 win over the Hurricanes.

Special teams is the difference

Colorado

• Power play: 15.9% (29th)
• Penalty kill: 85.7 (1st)

Carolina

• Power play: 19.0% (18th)
• Penalty kill: 79.6 (18th)

This might finally be the game where I can confidently say special teams was a huge factor in this game.

The power play allowed a shorthanded goal, and the best penalty kill in the league did not go perfect on the night.

In turn, though, a positive point to come out of this one was that the Avs power play converted twice – yes, you read that correctly – thanks to Team USA Olympian Brock Nelson.

The goal he scored to capture the lead? What a beauty.

What a PLAY 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/vpgSkiOkDx

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 4, 2026

A point differential for the ages

Heading into this game, the Avs are the best point differential team in the league at +71.

To that effect, the Avs are also the best third-period team in the league, with a differential of +34.

The Avs go into the final frame of this one down 3-1.

Colorado is the best 3rd period team in the NHL, with a +34 goal differential.

Canes sit at 18th, -2.

For what it's worth, the Canes are also 15-1-1 when leading after 2 periods. The Avs are 2-2-5 when trailing.

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) January 4, 2026

Avs postgame pod