National Hockey League
Calgary 5, Colorado 4
When: 9:00 PM ET, Monday, December 9, 2019
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, T.J. Luxmore
Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz, Ryan Gibbons
Attendance: 17588

Sean Monahan scored in overtime and the Calgary Flames overcame blowing a two-goal lead in the third period to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in Denver on Monday night.

Michael Frolik and Andrew Mangiapane had goals in the first 1:39 of the third period to give the Flames a 4-2 lead. But Nathan MacKinnon and Joonas Donskoi each scored in the third to even the game and ultimately send it to overtime.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, Derek Ryan also scored and David Rittich stopped 28 shots for the Flames, who have won five straight under interim head coach Geoff Ward. Mark Giordano, Elias Lindholm and Dillon Dube had two assists each for Calgary.

MacKinnon and Donskoi each added an assist, as well, and Valeri Nichushkin and Ryan Graves also scored for Colorado, which had won six in a row. Pavel Francouz had 28 saves.

The Avalanche played without their top goaltender Philipp Grubauer (lower body) and defenseman Cale Makar (upper body). Both are considered day-to-day.

The Flames got their first win in three tries against Colorado this season when Monahan skated in on Francouz and beat him for his ninth goal of the season at 2:09 of overtime.

The game was tied after two but Mangiapane broke it with a shot from the slot early in the third. Frolik made it 4-2 with a tip-in at 1:39 but Colorado rallied.

MacKinnon got one back with his 19th of the season at 3:59 and Donskoi scored at 10:45 to knot it up again.

Colorado struck first early in the opening period when Graves beat Rittich at 4:32. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Ryan tied it when he tipped in Oliver Kylington's shot from the point at 9:33 of the second period, his fifth of the season. But Colorado came right back, Nichushkin grabbing a rebound and stickhandling around Rittich before putting it in 31 seconds after Ryan's goal.

It was Nichushkin's fifth of the season and fifth in eight games after a 91-game goal drought.

It stayed that way until late in the second when Tkachuk scored seven seconds into a power play. It was his 12th of the season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   Colorado
Matthew Tkachuk 2 Points Joonas Donskoi 2
Matthew Tkachuk 1 Goals Joonas Donskoi 1
Dillon Dube 2 Assists Joonas Donskoi 1
Matthew Tkachuk 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
David Rittich .875 Save Percentage Pavel Francouz .848
David Rittich 28 Saves Pavel Francouz 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 33 5 1-3 2-2 4 38
Colorado 32 4 0-2 2-3 6 24
Upcoming Games
  • Colorado will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Avalanche have a W/L % of .684 after a win and .545 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Flames have a W/L % of .438 after a win and .562 after a loss.