It’s become a pattern now — the Colorado Avalanche look like the better team for the better part of the first 40 minutes and then the final period is a problem.

Cale Makar scored twice and set up the tiebreaking goal by Artturi Lehkonen with 15 seconds remaining as the revamped Colorado Avalanche blew a pair of two-goal leads before earning a dramatic 5-4 victory over the host New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

DENVER — Cale Makar deflects not only shots but any mention of milestones related to him. It’s just the nature of the Colorado Avalanche’s dynamic defenseman. He’s not a big spotlight person even if he constantly finds himself in the limelight.

Artturi Lehkonen scored the tiebreaking goal with 14.7 seconds left and Mackenzie Blackwood made 33 saves and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New York Rangers 5-4.

Makar scored two goals in the first period and dished the game-winning assist in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rangers.

Artemi Panarin was in the middle of the two most critical plays in the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Avalanche on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Hughes is making a strong case to win his second straight award given to the best defenseman in the NHL. He leads the Canucks into Enterprise Center to face the St. Louis Blues on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, Prime) off a two-goal performance in a 2-1 win against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring ...

The New York Islanders (22-20-7) won their fifth straight game and defeated the Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2) 5-2 on Tuesday night in UBS Arena.

The New York Islanders (22-20-7) dug deep. They won their fifth game in a row, closing out a very successful homestand with an emphatic third period against the Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2).

Mikko Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and it raised big questions about forward Mitch Marner.