Artturi Lehkonen scored with 15 seconds left in the third period and the Colorado Avalanche escaped with a 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Cale Makar came out of the penalty box to launch the counter-attack in excess and served a precise pass to Lehkonen, who drew on reception. Colorado thus ended a series of three consecutive defeats.
Makar had scored two goals earlier in the match, both times off assists from Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon. Necas scored his first points in an Avalanche uniform (29-20-2). Mackenzie Blackwood finished the game with 33 saves.
Artemi Panarin tied the game 4-4 with 5:02 left in regulation. The Rangers (24-21-4) came back from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits, but saw their streak of 10 straight games with at least one point (7-0-3) come to an end. Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist, Reilly Smith had two assists and Igor Shesterkin gave up five times on 21 shots.
