DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are finally in the win column.
It's been a rough start to the 2024-25 NHL season for Colorado's hockey team, but after four consecutive losses to begin the campaign the Avalanche rose to the occasion and outlasted the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Friday night at Ball Arena for their first win.
"Just a relief," goaltender Alexandar Georgiev told 9NEWS at his locker after the game. "A really good feeling."
Georgiev had been struggling between the pipes in the early part of the season, allowing 17 goals heading into Friday night's contest. He shook off a two-goal first frame to support Colorado's first victory.
Hart Trophy MVP Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal in overtime thanks to Mikko Rantanen, who finished with three assists.
"We were due for an ugly one to finally go in," MacKinnon said. "We have a lot of ground to make up. It's not like we're going crazy here."
Ross Colton scored two goals, both in the third period, and Casey Mittelstadt, playing in his 200th consecutive game, also had a goal for his 200th career point with a goal for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev had 16 saves.
Leo Carlsson, Ryan Strome and Troy Terry scored for Anaheim. Lukas Dostal finished with 45 saves.
Terry scored with 12.6 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score 3-3.
Trailing 2-0, Colorado finally broke through offensively when Mittelstadt finished off a breakaway with a backhand shot that sailed into the net over Dostal’s glove hand. Nikolai Kovalenko triggered the breakaway with a pass that the streaking Mittelstadt picked up for his drive to the net to ignite the Avs’ offense.