TAMPA, Fla. — The rough start for the preseason Stanley Cup favorites was smoothed out Saturday by defeating the two-time defending Cup champions on the road.
Superstar Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche’s other top players had clutch performances against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning 4-3 by virtue of a shootout to salvage two points to conclude a three-game road trip.
MacKinnon, who missed two of the first four games because of COVID protocol, had a power-play goal and assisted on tallies by linemates Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, and defenseman Cale Makar scored the shootout-winning goal as the Avs never trailed and downed the Lightning at Amalie Arena.