Charlie Coyle scored the lone goal in the shootout to cap off a thrilling comeback as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.
Coyle sealed the win with a top-shelf snipe past Vegas goaltender Akira Schmid, while Scott Wedgewood stopped all three shootout attempts and made 19 saves through regulation and overtime to secure the victory.
Avalanche Rally From Two-Goal Deficit
After trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Avalanche staged their 23rd comeback win of the season. The momentum shifted with a power-play goal from Valeri Nichushkin, initially ruled no goal before being overturned on video review. Moments later, Jimmy Vesey scored his first goal with the Avalanche to tie the game.
Nathan MacKinnon extended his incredible home point streak to 26 consecutive games with an assist during the rally.
Short-Handed Golden Knights Struggle Despite Early Lead
Vegas opened the scoring with a short-handed goal from William Karlsson, his first since December 21, followed by a tally from Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights were without key players including top scorer Jack Eichel (upper body injury), and defensemen Nicolas Hague and Alex Pietrangelo, both sidelined with illness.
Goaltender Akira Schmid kept the Golden Knights in the game, stopping 34 of 36 shots, including a highlight-reel glove save in the second period. However, a review showed his glove crossed the goal line with the puck, resulting in Nichushkin’s goal being upheld.
Game Stats & Key Moments
- Shots on Goal: Avalanche 36, Golden Knights 21
- Power Plays: Colorado 1-for-4, Vegas 0-for-4
- Shootout Result: Avalanche 1, Golden Knights 0
- Key Moment: Video review overturned no-goal call on Nichushkin’s second-period shot
- Notable: Jimmy Vesey scored in his first goal since being acquired from the Rangers on March 1
Takeaways
- Avalanche: Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Lindgren are already making an impact after the trade deadline. MacKinnon continues to dominate at home.
- Golden Knights: Missed opportunities on four power plays and a shortened lineup due to injuries and illness hurt Vegas' chances.
What’s Next
- Colorado Avalanche host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in their regular-season home finale.
- Vegas Golden Knights return home to take on the Seattle Kraken.
