The Colorado Avalanche relied on crucial defensive contributions to avoid disaster against the Montreal Canadiens after squandering a 4-1 lead on Saturday night.
The Colorado Avalanche narrowly avoided disaster on Saturday, surrendering a 4-1 lead to the Montreal Canadiens before escaping with a 5-4 shootout victory.
Brock Nelson played a key role in building Colorado’s lead with two points, and for a while, the Avs looked in control. However, momentum shifted quickly as the Canadiens struck twice in a span of 30 seconds, tightening the game. Despite hopes of holding on, the Avalanche conceded the equalizer, forcing overtime. With no resolution in extra time, Nelson ultimately secured the win in the shootout, salvaging two points for Colorado.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Ryan Lindgren with 09:51 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Brock Nelson and Artturi Lehkonen.
Montreal: 0
Colorado: 2#COLvsMTL #GoHabsGo #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ma59OMbgjY— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 22, 2025
Still, there’s no ignoring the concerning takeaway—Colorado blew a comfortable lead against a non-playoff team. While Montreal currently holds the final wildcard spot in the East, they aren’t considered a serious contender this season. The Avalanche can’t afford to take any opponent lightly, as losing focus can lead to unnecessary struggles like the one they just survived.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Sam Malinski with 12:25 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Joel Kiviranta and Ross Colton.
Montreal: 0
Colorado: 1#COLvsMTL #GoHabsGo #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ruX9cOmDk3— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 22, 2025
As the regular season winds down, every point matters. The Avs must remain locked in, ensuring they don’t let their guard down at critical moments. With about a dozen games left before an expected first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars, they have little time to refine their approach.
Blue Liners Step Up for Avalanche
On a night when Cale Makar was unusually quiet despite logging 31 minutes, Colorado’s defense stepped up. Ryan Lindgren and Sam Malinski delivered key offensive contributions, providing much-needed support from the blue line.
Lindgren scored his second goal since joining the Avalanche, capitalizing on a loose puck with a confident finish. Malinski also found the net, opening the scoring on a perfectly set-up slapshot from Joel Kiviranta. Their ability to generate offense from the back end could be crucial, especially on nights when stars like Makar and Nathan MacKinnon aren’t dominating the scoresheet.
Another key mention goes to MacKenzie Blackwood. Though he struggled after Montreal’s equalizer, he settled in and locked things down when it mattered most. With one of the strongest goaltending tandems in the league, the Avs are in good shape as they shift their focus to the postseason.
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