Joel Kiviranta helps Avalanche best old friend Alexandar Georgiev, Sharks

Corey Masisak, The Denver Post on Dec 20, 2024

Published in Hockey

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — The puck went off Alexandar Georgiev and into the net behind him. Instead of sunken shoulders from the Colorado Avalanche, there were celebrations.

Joel Kiviranta scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 6:54 left Thursday night, and the Avs defeated Georgiev and the San Jose Sharks, 4-2, at SAP Center.

Georgiev and Colorado’s new starting goaltender, Mackenzie Blackwood, were traded for each other 10 days before being pitted against each other with their new clubs Thursday night. The Avs scored early on their old pal, but needed a comeback late to defeat him.

Kiviranta scored on a rush shortly after the Avs killed off back-to-back penalties, then potted his second of the night with 4:02 remaining to give his club some breathing room.

Colorado’s power play was 5 of 48 with two shorthanded goals allowed in the past 18 games, but the Avs scored twice with the extra man in four tries against Georgiev. The second one was vintage work from this core of Avalanche players.

Mikko Rantanen started the passing sequence, as the puck went around the perimeter to Cale Makar and then to Nathan MacKinnon. The reigning league MVP found Rantanen through the heart of the defense for a one-timer and his team-leading 19th goal of the season to even the score with 11:34 remaining in the third.

San Jose went ahead during a weird, sloppy and ultimately not very good second period for the visitors. The Sharks scored twice, and both came after miscommunications/turnovers by Colorado’s best forwards.

Carl Grundstrom tied the game 4:26 into the second after a Rantanen outlet attempt went off Valeri Nichushkin’s stick and right to San Jose defenseman Jan Rutta at the top of the Sharks’ offensive zone. Blackwood stopped Rutta’s shot, but Grundstrom had an easy rebound look.

William Eklund pushed San Jose ahead midway through the second. Eklund intercepted a pass from MacKinnon intended for Makar to start the offensive possession, then a misplay by MacKinnon and Arturri Lehkonen resulted with a quick shot that surprised Blackwood.

The Avs scored on their first shot on goal of the game against Georgiev. Makar’s attempt from the top of the zone missed wide right, but Nichushkin was there to direct the carom off the end boards past his former teammate at 3:40 of the opening period.

Blackwood, who received an ovation from the crowd when he was announced as Colorado’s starting goalie, made a fantastic save on Sharks rookie Will Smith midway through the first period. His second-best save of the period came on fellow rookie Macklin Celebrini after the puck deflected to him off former Avs forward Nikolai Kovalenko, who was also part of the trade and is enjoying his new opportunity on San Jose’s top line.