Review: Girard scores in overtime, helping Avalanche stun the Predators in a thriller

The Colorado Avalanche are back at .500 and Samuel Girard was the hero.

The star defenseman stole the puck from a stumbling Brady Skjei, converted a penalty and scored a goal in overtime to send the Avalanche (8-8) home as winners in a 3-2 victory at Ball Arena on Monday night .

Devon Toews and Mikko Rantanen each scored a goal and Girard also had an assist for the Avs, who have won two straight games and three of their last four games. In addition, Nathan MacKinnon was able to extend his home point streak at the start of the season to 10 games with an assist (five goals, 17 assists). And after a difficult start to the season, Alexander Georgiev appears to have found the right path as he made 29 saves in another strong performance.

Nashville’s Luke Evangelista made the final score of the game 1-0 when he jumped on a rebound at the top of the crease and fired it in from Georgiev at 1:45 of the first frame. It was another slow start, as Colorado was outscored 12-6 in the period.

Toews scored his first goal of the season 4:32 into the second period when his shot deflected off a Predators skate and sneaked past goaltender Juuse Saros.

Rantanen gave the Avalanche the lead with a one-timer from the right faceoff dot with 8 minutes, 23 seconds left in the second.

The Predators came with a sense of urgency to start the final period of the game and it was Colton Sissons who fired a shot into the goal to tie the game at 2-0. It all started when Roman Josi passed him a pass and he didn’t miss and beat Georgiev after 59 seconds in the quarter.

Both goalkeepers showed outstanding performances as the game remained a draw at the end of regular time.

And we all know what happened from then on. Girard played excellent psychological warfare, stealing the puck and scoring his first goal of the season 2:47 into overtime to send Colorado fans home happy. Girard, 26, was surrounded by his teammates on the ice after he beat Saros with a brilliant shot that hit the left corner of the net.

Colorado is starting to get going and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The team is still plagued by injuries, but with Valeri Nichushkin returning soon from his suspension, this will give the offense a much-needed boost assuming he doesn’t have any issues. Georgiev has had back-to-back great performances. Once the offense regains its strength, we will see what this team is truly capable of. And as Girard illustrated, this team isn’t just going to disappear.

The Avalanche home opener continues when they face the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at Ball Arena. Puck drop takes place at 8:00 p.m. local time. This game will be broadcast nationally on TNT/Max.