Darcy Kuemper stopped 49 shots and the Arizona Coyotes held on to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday to close within 2-1 in their Stanley Cup playoff series.
Arizona took the early lead on Derek Stepan's first-period goal, then spent most of the day counterpunching against Colorado's relentless pressure.
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Darcy Kuemper stopped 49 shots and the Arizona Coyotes held on to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday to close within 2-1 in their Stanley Cup playoff series.
Kuemper took made a series of difficult saves in the third period and Taylor Hall scored on an empty net, seemingly sealing it.
Colorado took advantage of Arizona's tentative play with three goals in the third period to win Game 1. The Coyotes were far more aggressive in Game 2, yet the Avalanche won 3-2 on Burakovsky's goal with 2:53 left in regulation.
The Avs continued the attack in the second period and tied it when Burakovky's shot caromed off Arizona defenseman Alex Goligoski's leg past Kuemper, right after the second of consecutive power plays.
Notes: Arizona was without leading scorer Nick Schmlatz for the seventh straight game due to a head injury suffered in an exhibition game. ... The Avalanche played their 200th playoff game since moving to Denver in 1995. ... Colorado C Vladislav Namestrikov was out after leaving the second period of Game 2 with an injury, but RW Joonas Donskoi returned after missing a game. ... Arizona is 0 for 9 on the power play in the series after failing in three chances with the man advantage in Game 3.
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Arizona Coyotes' Brad Richardson (15) celebrates a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog (92) watches the puck go in past Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche's Ian Cole (28) misses a check on Arizona Coyotes' Conor Garland (83) during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Andre Burakovsky tied it in the second period during one Avalanche flurry, but Brad Richardson Richardson put the Coyotes up 2-1 in the closing seconds.
Arizona Coyotes' Brad Richardson (15) and Jason Demers (55) celebrate a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Kuemper took made a series of difficult saves in the third period and Taylor Hall scored on an empty net, seemingly sealing it.
Mikko Rantanen gave Colorado life, following Hall's goal by scoring with 1:03 left. Lawson Crouse finally put it out of reach with an empty-net goal to give Arizona life heading into Game 4 on Monday.
Colorado 's Pavel Francouz stopped 19 shots.
Colorado Avalanche's Joonas Donskoi (72) is stopped by Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) during first period NHL Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday, August 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESSJason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado took advantage of Arizona's tentative play with three goals in the third period to win Game 1. The Coyotes were far more aggressive in Game 2, yet the Avalanche won 3-2 on Burakovsky's goal with 2:53 left in regulation.
Arizona had the early buzz going again in Game 3 and capitalized early when Stepan one-timed a shot from just outside the crease on a pass from behind by Clayton Keller.
Colorado picked up the pressure after Arizona took its first lead of the series, but Kuemper was sharp, turning away a franchise postseason-record 20 shots in the first period.
Arizona Coyotes' Jordan Oesterle (82), Alex Goligoski (33) and goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) celebrate the win over the Colorado Avalanche in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
The Avs continued the attack in the second period and tied it when Burakovky's shot caromed off Arizona defenseman Alex Goligoski's leg past Kuemper, right after the second of consecutive power plays.
Arizona snatched the momentum back with 34 seconds left in the second period, taking a 2-1 lead on Richardson's wrister from the left circle past Francouz.
The Coyotes spent most of the third period in their own end, but Kuemper bailed them out time and again with spectacular saves before the two empty-net goals sealed it.
Colorado Avalanche's J.T. Compher (37), Valeri Nichushkin (13) and Joonas Donskoi (72) celebrate a goal as Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) look on during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Notes: Arizona was without leading scorer Nick Schmlatz for the seventh straight game due to a head injury suffered in an exhibition game. ... The Avalanche played their 200th playoff game since moving to Denver in 1995. ... Colorado C Vladislav Namestrikov was out after leaving the second period of Game 2 with an injury, but RW Joonas Donskoi returned after missing a game. ... Arizona is 0 for 9 on the power play in the series after failing in three chances with the man advantage in Game 3.
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Game 4 is Monday in Edmonton.
Colorado Avalanche's Joonas Donskoi (72) and Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) get face to face during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
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Colorado Avalanche's Nazem Kadri (91) is stopped by Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) as Coyotes' Jason Demers (55) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Arizona Coyotes' Brad Richardson (15) celebrates a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog (92) watches the puck go in past Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche's Ian Cole (28) misses a check on Arizona Coyotes' Conor Garland (83) during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)