Quick Read
- Avalanche erased two third-period deficits to beat Golden Knights 6-5 in a shootout.
- Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas led Colorado with key goals and assists.
- Avalanche extended their winning streak to seven and secured their first shootout victory of the season.
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights delivered one of the most electrifying games of the 2025 NHL season on December 27, with momentum swinging wildly until the final moments. As the teams took the ice at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the stakes felt higher than ever: the Avalanche, sitting atop the league with a dominant record, faced a Golden Knights squad determined to prove their mettle despite missing key players.
From the opening puck drop, Vegas showed they weren’t intimidated. Alexander Holtz, recently finding his stride, netted his first goal of the season just under three minutes into the first period. His confidence was evident, and later he added an assist for a career-first multipoint game with the Knights. “Looked like the puck was following him, for sure. He had a lot of good looks,” teammate Brett Howden remarked after the game, a testament to Holtz’s growing influence.
The Golden Knights twice built two-goal cushions, including a rapid-fire sequence in the second period where Ben Hutton and Brett Howden scored within 29 seconds to push the lead to 4-2. Ivan Barbashev had also found the net early in the second, giving Vegas a 2-0 advantage and firing up the home crowd.
But the Avalanche, true to their reputation, refused to fold. Fortuitous bounces played a role—Samuel Girard’s centering pass ricocheted off Artturi Lehkonen and found its way past Vegas goaltender Carter Hart, while Martin Necas’s first goal bounced off Kaedan Korczak’s skate. By the end of the second period, Colorado had clawed back to 4-2, then 4-3, thanks to persistent offensive pressure and a bit of luck.
The third period belonged to Colorado. Outshooting Vegas 16-6, the Avalanche amped up their attack, with Necas and MacKinnon each finding the back of the net to tie the score at 4-4. Vegas briefly regained the lead with Colton Sissons’ determined drive and backhand finish, making it 5-4 with just four minutes remaining.
In a defining moment, with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Lehkonen hammered home a one-timer with 1:57 left, sending the game to overtime. “Whenever you’re down against a good team twice by two and you’re able to come out of there with a win, I think it feels good,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who praised his squad’s resilience.
Overtime saw no goals, despite relentless effort from both sides. The shootout, however, showcased the Avalanche’s star power. Necas scored in the second round, and MacKinnon, the NHL’s leading goal scorer, sealed the win with a wrist shot in the fourth. Vegas’s Alexander Holtz, hoping to extend the contest, fired wide on his last attempt.
Statistically, the Avalanche dominated in shot attempts, outpacing Vegas 100-46, including a lopsided 47-14 margin in the third period and overtime. Sam Malinski had a career night with three assists, while Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves, anchoring Colorado’s defense when it mattered most.
For Vegas, there were silver linings. Carter Hart stopped 34 shots and kept his team in the game with several highlight-reel saves. The Knights managed to score five times against Wedgewood, whose goals-against average leads the league, despite missing stars Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and William Karlsson due to injuries. “They’re clearly a better team than we are right now. You can see that with their record and their push,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy admitted, yet he remained optimistic. “It’s not like I’m going home thinking, ‘We can’t compete with the Colorado Avalanche.’”
Postgame, both teams reflected on the seesaw battle, acknowledging the high skill and intensity on display. Necas’s double deflection goals, MacKinnon’s relentless nine shots, and Holtz’s breakthrough performance all shaped a narrative of resilience and adaptation. The Avalanche’s victory marked their seventh consecutive win and first shootout triumph of the season, putting them at 28-2-7 and solidifying their status as league leaders.
For fans and analysts alike, this contest was a reminder that even the best teams are tested, and that grit, depth, and a touch of fortune can turn the tide on any night. As the season pushes forward, both squads will look to build on the lessons from this instant classic—one where every bounce, save, and shot carried outsized meaning in the race for playoff positioning.
The Avalanche’s comeback win in Las Vegas is more than just another notch in the standings—it’s a statement of character and championship pedigree. Their ability to respond under pressure, adapt to adversity, and finish strong in the shootout highlights why Colorado is widely considered the class of the NHL in 2025. For the Knights, the narrow defeat exposes areas for growth but also affirms their competitive fire, even when undermanned. As both teams move forward, this showdown will serve as a benchmark for grit and excellence in a season defined by parity and unpredictability. Sources: NHL.com, Review-Journal, ESPN, The Sporting Tribune.