Nichushkin continues point streak in overtime loss to Arizona Coyotes

The Avalanche fell to the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 in overtime but not all was lost in the game. 

Forward Valeri Nichushkin got an assist on Cale Makar's goal in the first period to extend his point-per-game streak to nine — which is the longest active point streak in the NHL.

"It was a hard-fought hockey game," head coach Jared Bednar said after the OT loss. "We did have that lull in the second that cost us a little bit and we'll have to work to try and improve that."

Miles Wood scored his fourth of the season while Nathan MacKinnon scored the tying goal. It was his eighth so far which ranks him fourth among goal-scorers on the team. 

Bednar said he liked his team's effort in the first period and start of the second, but it lacked for most of the middle frame. The Avs played hard in the third period to tie the game up but then had an unfortunate finish. 

Bowen Byram got called for slashing Nick Bjugstad in overtime to give the Coyotes the man-advantage. Bjugstad stuffed one past Alexandar Georgiev in the last seconds of the penalty to win the game. 

"It wasn't bad, it wasn't great. Good enough to get a point, I guess," MacKinnon said after the game. "... I thought we were pretty good defensively."

The Avalanche had 31 shots on goal, while Georgiev stopped 28 shots from the Coyotes. While the 27-year-old goalie doesn't have a very good save percentage (.899) he has the most wins among netminders in the League and ranks fifth in number of saves made. 

Makar earned two points in the game which put him on top of the League in points by defenseman. He also surpassed John-Michael Liles to take second place on the franchise list for the most assists among defensemen. It was his 12th multi-point game this season and he was named the second star of the month by the NHL. 

Colorado had Friday off but is back at it against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday in the first part of a back-to-back before facing the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.