Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
Kurtis MacDermid scores game-winning goal against Minnesota Wild
Colorado has won five of its last six games with the latest by one against Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center on Friday night.
Forward Kurtis MacDermid pulled in a pass from Andrew Cogliano in the slot and backhand slid it past Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson for the game-winner late in the third period.
"Doesn't happen with me too often. It feels good and I just want to do my best and help the team out in any way I can," MacDermid told reporters after the game.
He spoke with the national TNT crew and told them the goal was like "an out of body experience." The
MacDermid moved from defense to offense this season and head coach Jared Bednar has shifted him in and out of the lineup when he felt he would fit best.
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"When you see guys working hard, in and out of the lineup, you want to see them get rewarded for their work," Bednar said. "Feel like they're contributing even if it's on and off in the lineup, and Dermy's (MacDermid) certainly done that. The guys love him, he's a great team guy. He's there for them all the time when they need him, but to go out and score a big goal, it's icing on the cake."
Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin scored the first two goals of the game but the Avs didn't keep the 2-0 lead for very long. Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov tipped in a rebound to capitalize on a turnover and get the Wild on the board less than a minute later.
Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek tied it up with a power-play goal at 14:21 into the second period.
Despite the close game, Bednar said his team played well on the 5-on-5 throughout the game. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 19 shots on goal and Bednar said his netminder played a great game.
"Our 5-on-5 game was really good. We had a good first period, even the second 5-on-5, third as well," Bednar said. "Obviously they had their push at certain points in the third ... we handled it well."
Cale Makar didn't tally a point and remains one short of tying his own highest month points total. Nichushkin continued a six-game goal streak — the longest of his career and the longest for any player this season.
The Avalanche play the second half of their first back-to-back this season against the Calgary Flames at Ball Arena Saturday night. Puck drops at 8 p.m. MT.
