Down by 3 goals, Oilers storm back to top Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard reacts after scoring the winning goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Coloraod Avalanche Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski/AP)

Evan Bouchard scored the winning goal late in the third period, capping the Edmonton Oilers' rally from a three-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in Denver on Thursday night.

Bouchard also had an assist, Connor McDavid also had a goal and an assist, and Brett Kulak and Viktor Arvidsson added goals for Edmonton, which has won four straight games and eight of nine. Leon Draisaitl chipped in two assists, and Stuart Skinner made 22 saves.

The Oilers completed the comeback when Bouchard’s shot from the right circle beat Mackenzie Blackwood at 13:05 of the third.

The loss spoiled a two-goal night for Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. Logan O’Connor also scored and Blackwood turned away 23 shots.

Defenseman Sam Girard returned to the Colorado lineup after missing three games with an upper-body injury.

O’Connor opened the scoring when he got the puck out of a scrum along the backboards, skated in front of the net and beat Skinner with a close-in shot at 5:17 of the first.

Edmonton had a chance to tie it on the power play two minutes later and had some quality chances, but Blackwood turned away the best opportunity off the stick of Zach Hyman.

Minutes later, MacKinnon got a drop pass from Jonathan Drouin, skated into the slot and sent a wrister past Skinner at 10:04 of the first. His second of the night came 1:44 later when he stickhandled around defenseman Bouchard and beat Skinner at 11:48.

The Oilers got one back 42 seconds before intermission when Arvidsson’s slap shot from the left circle beat Blackwood through the pads.

Edmonton continued its comeback in the second period. Kulak made it 3-2 when his shot from the point went through a screen and inside the right post at 6:17.

McDavid tied it later in the period after the Oilers kept the puck in the Colorado zone. Blackwood made a save but the rebound came to McDavid, who knocked it in at 14:49.

--Field Level Media