Ducks rally late to stun Avalanche
Two goals 24 seconds apart in third period, plus Vatrano’s three scores, aid comeback.
DENVER — Frank Vatrano scored three goals, Adam Henrique and Mason McTavish scored 24 seconds apart in the third period and the Ducks rallied from a twogoal deficit to stun Colorado 5-3 on Thursday night and stop the Avalanche’s sixgame winning streak.
Trailing 3-1, Vatrano scored his second goal with 1:23 left in the second period.
The Ducks then dominated early in the third period. Henrique tied it on a feed from Denver native Troy Terry at 9:42. And McTavish put the Ducks ahead when his shot trickled past Pavel Francouz.
The Avalanche had numerous chances late, twice hitting the post until Vatrano scored an empty-net goal for his third career hat trick.
John Gibson stopped 40 shots as the Ducks, in last place in the Pacific Division, finished a six-game trip 3-2-1.
Mikko Rantanen scored twice, Samuel Girard added a goal and an assist, and
Cale Makar had an assist in his return from injury. But the Avalanche fell to fourth in the Central Division, a point behind Minnesota. Francouz made 27 saves. Makar had missed four games with an upper-body injury. But his return coincided with Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) sitting out.
Nathan MacKinnon fed Girard 1:13 into the second period for his 40th assist to put the Avalanche ahead 2-1. Then with Colorado on the
power play after Gibson was called for intentionally dislodging the net, Rantanen rocketed a one-timer for his 34th goal.
It took Colorado just 3:56 to go ahead when Rantanen knocked Makar’s rebound into an open net. It was Makar’s 31st assist.
Despite being outshot 18-7 in the first, Vatrano tied it for the Ducks midway through the period when he converted his own fat rebound.