Martin Nečas delivered a standout performance with two goals in regulation and another in the shootout, and Nathan MacKinnon sealed the result as the Colorado Avalanche outlasted the Vegas Golden Knights 6–5 on Saturday night.
MacKinnon joined Nečas with a successful shootout attempt, while Mitch Marner was the lone Vegas skater to score in the tiebreaker.
Colorado stretched its winning streak to seven games and continued a dominant run that has produced points in 27 of its last 28 contests. During that span, the Avalanche are an NHL-best 23-1-4, including 9-1-2 in their last 12 road games. With 63 points, Colorado remains the league’s only team to reach the 60-point mark and sits comfortably atop the Central Division.
Vegas earned a point but dropped its fourth game in five outings, splitting the first two games of a four-game homestand. Despite the loss, the Golden Knights briefly claimed sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division with 45 points, edging Anaheim and Edmonton by one.
The Knights squandered two separate two-goal advantages, allowing Colorado to draw even in both the second and third periods. Vegas appeared poised to escape with a regulation win when Colton Sissons scored with four minutes remaining, but Artturi Lehkonen answered with 1:57 left to force overtime.
The extra session marked Vegas’ 15th overtime game of the season. The Golden Knights are now 4-11 in overtime, including 1-5 in shootouts.
Along with Nečas, Colorado got regulation goals from Samuel Girard and MacKinnon, while Scott Wedgewood finished with 20 saves.
Vegas received goals from Alexander Holtz, Ivan Barbashev, Ben Hutton, Brett Howden, and Sissons. Carter Hart stopped 33 shots in the loss.
Up Next
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Avalanche: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
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Golden Knights: Host the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.