OTTAWA, ON — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, Lars Eller scored a strange deciding goal and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.
Colorado defenseman Cale Makar had a goal and an assist, and Lars Eller, Valeri Nichushkin and Evan Rodrigues also scored. Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, and Jonas Johansson stopped 31 shots.
Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Travis Hamonic and Brady Tkachuk scored for Ottawa, Tim Stutzle had three assists and Mads Sogaard made 25 saves. The Senators have lost four in a row.
The Avalanche scored three times in the second period, including Eller’s odd goal, to take a 5-2 lead.
After Rantanen gave the Avalanche a 3-1 lead at 4:23, Pinto drew the Senators back within a goal eight minutes into the period. Rodrigues gave the Avalanche a 4-2 lead with 4:43 to go, and then the weirdness happened.
On what the Senators appeared to think was icing against the Avalanche, the puck bounced off the end boards and was in the corner of the crease by Sogaard’s pad. With Senators’ defenseman Jake Sanderson standing next to his netminder, no whistle came to end the play. After a couple of seconds, Eller skated in and jammed the puck past a confused group of Senators with 1:51 left.
After a lengthy review of a goaltender interference challenge from Senators coach DJ Smith, the goal stood.
Hamonic scored at 2:52 of the third period and Tkachuk scored on the power play at 13:18 to pull the Senators within a goal.
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Right Wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) sets up in front of Ottawa Senators Goalie Mads Sogaard (40) during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (96) keeps eyes on the play from near the net of Ottawa Senators Goalie Mads Sogaard (40) during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Left Wing Alex Galchenyuk (47) crashes into the net while battling Ottawa Senators Center Dylan Gambrell (27) behind Goalie Mads Sogaard (40) during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) skates with the puck pressured by Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jake Sanderson (85) during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Bowen Byram (4) before a face-off during second period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Cale Makar (8) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Jonas Johansson (31) receives a snow shower while looking to make a save during second period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Ottawa Senators Center Ridly Greig (17) battles Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Bowen Byram (4) during second period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Patrick Brown (38) after a whistle during second period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 16: Ottawa Senators Goalie Mads Sogaard (40) battles Colorado Avalanche Winger Evan Rodrigues (9) in his crease along with Defenceman Artem Zub (2) during third period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on March 16, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
