The Colorado Avalanche rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the second period to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 in Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday, leveling the best-of-seven series 1-1.
Alexandar Georgiev, who allowed seven goals on 23 shots in Game 1, bounced back with 28 saves for the Avalanche in Game 2. Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist, and David Gustafsson and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets.
The Jets took an early lead when Gustafsson tipped in a shot by Brenden Dillon at 3:15 of the first period. However, the Avalanche tied the game at 1-1 when Miles Wood scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a faceoff win by Ross Colton at 1:59 of the second period.
The Jets regained the lead at 8:37 of the second period when Scheifele redirected a pass from Gabriel Vilardi past Georgiev. But the Avalanche answered back with three goals in the final 5:44 of the second period.
Lehkonen tied the game at 2-2 at 14:16 when he tipped in a wrist shot from Cale Makar from the point. Zach Parise gave the Avalanche a 3-2 lead at 17:20 when he knocked in his own rebound after Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net.
Josh Manson made it 4-2 when he left the penalty box, received a stretch pass from Nathan MacKinnon, and scored 5-hole on a breakaway with seven seconds remaining in the period.
The Avalanche added an empty-net goal from Valeri Nichushkin with 57 seconds left in the game to seal the 5-2 victory.
Game 3 of the series will be played in Denver on Friday.
