Alexis Lafreniere's goal 1:53 into overtime lifted the New York Rangers to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday in a matchup of division leaders that started up the NHL's post-All-Star break schedule.
The Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers trailed 1-0 in the third period before rallying behind goals from Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin that supported a sharp 32-save effort from Jonathan Quick.
Former Ranger Alexandar Georgiev shut out his ex-team for over 2 1/2 periods until Panarin's wrist shot bounced off Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon and deflected past the Colorado goaltender to tie the game at 1-1 with 8:43 left in regulation.
Lafreniere later ripped the puck by Georgiev on the Rangers' lone shot attempt in overtime to end the Central Division-leading Avalanche's three-game winning streak. Quick was credited with a secondary assist on the goal.
MacKinnon extended his point streak to 14 games when he rushed up the ice and fired a shot that beat Quick to the glove side with 1:46 remaining in the first period.
Georgiev finished with 29 saves, including 11 in the first period.
Engvall's late goal puts Islanders over Maple Leafs
Former Maple Leaf Pierre Engvall scored the tie-breaking goal in his return to Toronto to send the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over his ex-team.
Engvall knocked in a rebound of teammate Brock Nelson's shot with 2:02 left in the third period to snap a 2-2 deadlock and help stop New York's three-game losing streak. The forward was making his first appearance at Scotiabank Arena since being traded by the Maple Leafs to the Islanders on Feb. 28, 2023.
Mathew Barzal and Kyle MacLean also scored for New York to back 35 saves from Ilya Sorokin.
Former Islanders captain John Tavares had a goal and an assist for Toronto and briefly tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play tally with 4:48 remaining.
After Barzal recorded the lone goal of the first period, Mitchell Marner scored just 50 seconds into the second to pull the Maple Leafs even. The tied score lasted only two minutes, however, as MacLean beat Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov on a breakaway for his first NHL goal.
MacLean's father, John, is an Islanders' assistant coach.
Samsonov registered 26 saves for the Maple Leafs, who had a three-game winning streak halted.