Avalanche scores 5 straight points to defeat Sabers

Artturi Lehkonen capped the five-goal streak at 15:38 of the third period when he scored off a rebound to take the lead.

Scott Wedgewood stopped all 22 shots he faced in his debut for the Avalanche in relief for the Avalanche (14-12-0). He replaced Alexandar Georgiev, who allowed four goals on eight shots in the first period.

Tage Thompson scored two goals and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 38 saves for the Sabers (11-12-2), who have lost four straight.

Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin played one shift in the third period before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury.

MacKinnon began the comeback by cutting the score to 4-1 at 2:24 of the second period, ending a 10-game losing streak. He intercepted Connor Clifton’s clearing attempt near the Buffalo blue line and ran to the right faceoff circle to take a wrist shot to the glove side.

Joel Kiviranta brought the Avalanche to within 4-2 at 1:19 of the third period by grabbing a rebound in the low slot. Logan O’Connor then made it 4-3 at 4:30 when he jumped on a rebound and scored from deep in the left circle, prompting Sabers coach Lindy Ruff to call a timeout.

MacKinnon evened the score at 4-4 at 7:39 with his second goal of the game when he redirected Mikko Rantanen’s point shot over Luukkonen’s left shoulder.

Thompson gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 3:22 of the first period. Clifton’s shot hit the post and Thompson was on the doorstep to direct the rebound into the net.

Thompson then made it 2-0 at 6:39 by picking up Jason Zucker’s pass from the left point in the near circle and sliding a backhand through Georgiev’s pads.

JJ Peterka scored 11 seconds later to increase the score to 3-0 by taking a pass from Zach Benson through the slot and firing it short from the bottom of the right circle.

Beck Malenstyn made it 4-0 at 11:49. He took a pass from Nicolas Aube-Kubel at the left markers and slid a backhand from the front through the five-hole to chase down Georgiev.