MacKinnon, Nichushkin lead 5-goal outburst in 3rd period, Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin scored on the power play during a five-goal, third-period outburst and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 on Friday night.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 22 shots to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Game 4 is Sunday in the Mile High City.

Trailing 2-1 in the final period, Colorado, the highest-scoring team in the league, began pouring it on. The Avalanche scored four times in a 10:24 span to energize the crowd and stun the Jets in a game that ended in a lot of pushing and shoving.

“We didn’t sit back on our heels and I think we kind of just took it to them,” Ross Colton explained. “When we play with that speed, we play with that energy, we’re a good team. ... Credit to the guys in the room for just sticking with the process and putting ourselves in a good situation.”

MacKinnon sparked the scoring run with the tying goal and Nichushkin knocked in the go-ahead tally with 15:21 remaining. Nichushkin's goal came after Jets center Gabriel Vilardi was given a double-minor for hitting Devon Toews in the face with his stick and drawing blood. Toews left the ice with a towel held to his face.

Artturi Lehkonen and Colton added goals to make it 5-2. Toews, returning from a bloodied face, scored an empty-netter with 3:35 remaining to seal the win.

Casey Mittelstadt finished with three assists.

It was a third period where everything went wrong for the Jets, who were whistled for four penalties by the halfway mark (and a few more late for roughing and fighting with the game out of reach). Until then, the game was going their way, with Tyler Toffoli and Josh Morrissey scoring in the second period to make it 2-1.

“We’ve got to stop looking for that extra play and just do what they (Avalanche) do — throw it at the net,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “Clearly the discipline in the third period and the penalty kill just took us out of the game."

Vezina Trophy-favorite Connor Hellebuyck continues to struggle in net and has now given up 15 goals in the series. He stopped 34 shots.

When horn sounded to end the game several players began to square off. Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon quickly made his way to the locker room with his hand bleeding. The Jets had no update on Dillon or if the injury happened because of a skate blade.

“Obviously, a scary situation there,” Morrissey said. “We’re all really concerned for him. We’re just hoping everything is OK.”

Colorado scored the first goal when Zach Parise knocked in a rebound midway through the opening period. It was the first time in the series the team that scored first has won.

With goals in two straight games, Parise is the first player 39 or older to score in back-to-back games since Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson during the 2013 conference semifinals, according to NHL Stats.

Georgiev has rediscovered his confidence. He gave up seven goals in Game 1, leading to speculation he might be replaced by backup Justus Annunen before Annunen was ruled out for Game 2 due to an illness. Georgiev allowed two goals in a Game 2 win and was dependable again Friday.

Georgiev was serenaded throughout the night with chants of “Geor-gie, ”Geor-gie.”

“Unbelievable,” Georgiev said of the crowd calling his name. “I feel the guys did such a good job for me today, just made my job so much easier. I feel they deserve more chants, for sure. I appreciate it a lot. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Both teams made changes to their defense. The Jets inserted veteran Nate Schmidt into the lineup over Logan Stanley, while the Avalanche saw the return of Samuel Girard, who's been in concussion protocol. Girard had an assist in his return.

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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck remains on the ice after giving up a goal to Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets center Tyler Toffoli, right, checks Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stops a shot by Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, front, is congratulated for a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, foreground shoots the puck past Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk, left, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for a goal during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, left, stops a shot by Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, right, is checked on by head athletic trainer Matthew Sokolowski after Toews took a high stick to the face from Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter, left, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar vie for the puck during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry, left, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon dig for the puck during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, left, stops a shot from Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, right, tries to control the puck next to Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck makes a glove save against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey heads to the team box after celebrating with teammates following his goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter, back, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon defends during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, left, stops a wraparound shot by Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter, left, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, center, and Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey watch during the second period of Game 3 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces unleashed a nighttime barrage of more than 50 cruise missiles and explosive drones at Ukraine’s power grid Wednesday, targeting a wide area in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a “massive” attack.

The bombardment blasted targets in seven Ukrainian regions, including the Kyiv area and parts of the south and west, damaging homes and the country's rail network, authorities said. Three people, including an 8-year-old girl, were injured, according to officials.

Russia has repeatedly pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the war that is stretching into its third year and has claimed thousands of lives. By taking out the power, the Kremlin’s forces aim to rob Ukrainian manufacturing of its energy supply, especially military plants, and crush public morale.

The mass barrages also drain Ukrainian air defenses of ammunition as Kyiv’s depleted forces await delivery of the latest batch of promised Western military support. Ukrainian officials have been pleading for more NATO-standard air defense systems, such as Patriots.

Russia pummeled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the “blackout winter” of 2022-23. In March, it launched a new wave of attacks, one of which completely destroyed the Trypilska power plant near Kyiv, one of the country’s biggest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries. On Wednesday, a Ukrainian attack hit an oil terminal, injuring five workers and starting a fire, Russia-appointed authorities in the partially occupied Luhansk region said.

Russian bombardments, though frequent, have become less regular in recent weeks, and Ukrainian officials suspect Moscow is stockpiling resources ahead of a major battlefield offensive that could come within weeks.

The 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line has changed little since the early months of the war, but Russia has recently made small but steady gains in some areas as Ukraine battles with a lack of manpower and a shortage of weapons.

In a social media post, Zelenskyy noted that Wednesday’s attacks occurred on the day that Ukraine observes the end of European fighting in World War II and equated Ukraine's current struggle with that conflict.

National electrical grid operator Ukrenergo said facilities were hit in the Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.

Two energy facilities were hit in the Lviv region, which is in the country’s far west and distant from the fighting’s front lines, according to regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

DTEK, Ukraine’s biggest private energy supplier, said the attack “seriously damaged” equipment at three of its thermal power plants.

The attack was the fifth in the last six weeks targeting the company’s facilities, DTEK said. Overall, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the company’s assets have come under attack nearly 180 times, injuring 51 workers and killing three, it said.

Russia launched 55 missiles and 21 Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Air defenses downed 39 of the missiles and 20 of the drones, Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said.

Russian forces also damaged the railway station building and train tracks in Kherson, national railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

A woman walks in front of a crater caused by a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

Flames burn in a crater following a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

Ukrainian servicemen turn over a damaged car at the scene of a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

A man looks at the debris of a car following a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

Police experts inspect the site of a Russian missile attack, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work at a damaged building after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP Photo)