Another Colorado comeback: Avalanche rally from 4-goal deficit this time in 5-4 win over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y.

(AP) Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has no explanation for his teams struggles with slow starts.

At the same time, hes also not questioning Colorados ability to respond when trailing, even as the Avs pushed Bednars patience and palpitations to their limits in pulling out their latest victory.

Behind Artturi Lehkonens goal with 4:22 remaining and newcomer Scott Wedgewood coming in cold to stop all 22 shots he faced in a backup role, the Avalanche overcame a 4-0 first-period deficit to rally for a .

In doing so, Colorado became the first team NHL this season to overcome a four-or-more goal deficit, while marking the 90th time thats happened in league history.

Its still recovering from that one, Bednar said, of how his heart felt.

Strange game.

It shouldnt be for Bednar and the Avalanche (13-12), who have become accustomed to winning when falling behind not just this season, but last year, too.

Colorado finished tied for second in the NHL last season in winning 26 games when trailing at any point of a game.

And that included the Avalanche being the last team to overcome a four-goal deficit in a 5-4 OT win over Pittsburgh on March 24.

This season, eight of Colorados wins have come after trailing.

And this was the Avalanches league-leading seventh victory out of the 17 times they've trailed after one period.

Adding to the degree of difficulty on Tuesday, was Buffalo building a 4-0 lead on eight shots through 11:49 of the first period to chase starting goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

Nathan MacKinnon, who scored twice and assisted on Lehkonens goal, credited Bednar for keeping his cool.

Bedsy didnt rip us too bad.

He was pretty calm, MacKinnon said of Bednars message during the first intermission.

I find sometimes when the coach comes in and hes negative upon how negative we feel, its just tough to come back.

MacKinnon started the rally by intercepting Connor Cliftons clearing attempt through the middle and roofing a 23-footer 2:24 into the second period.

The Avalanche then struck for four goals in the third, with MacKinnon tying the game 7:39 in by tipping in Mikko Rantanens shot from the left point.

Lehkonen scored when he was parked in front and swept in a loose puck after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped Calvin de Haan's shot from the left point.

When were down, it feels like were pressing hard, and when were in attack mode, its tough to contain us, I guess, MacKinnon said.

He also drew a laugh when asked the secret of the Avalanches ability to erase early deficits.

I dont know.

We never score first, I guess, MacKinnon said.

And credit Wedgewood, a seven-year journeyman, who is now with his fifth NHL team after .

Due to traveling back home to Nashville to see his family and pack, he didnt enjoy his first skate with his new team until Tuesday morning as Colorado opened a five-game trip.

Ive gone in at times and the first shot on me has gone in.

Its nothing of lack of trying, and thats the toughest part of that is youre kind of cold, said Wedgewood, whose second save was getting his pad out to stop Beck Malenstyns tip-in chance at the right post.

So get in there, try to stop the bleeding, and it ended up being a good night for me to do it.

The Avalanches joy was countered by the Sabres' frustration.

It (stinks), honestly.

Each and every guy needs to be better, forward Alex Tuch said.

We thought it was going to be easy, that they were just going to go into a hole.

Its former Stanley Cup champs over there.

...

You cant give them opportunities like that.

In dropping to 11-12-2, the Sabres are enduring yet another up-and-down season in an attempt to snap an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought.

They dropped to 0-3-1 in their past four, which followed a promising stretch in which they won seven of nine.

Sloppy passes, lack of defensive net-front presence and having star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin miss the third period with back spasms all contributed to the loss, coach Lindy Ruff said.

It's hard, painful, Ruff said.

Its my job not to let it snowball.

Well address it.

Well deal with it.

Well go over it.

Its hard, painful.

AP NHL:.

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