The Colorado Avalanche won a back-and-forth contest against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, needing overtime to do so.
Ryan O’Reilly scored on the power play with less than a minute remaining in the extra frame to earn the 4-3 win for Colorado, after the Avalanche coughed up the lead in the third period, fell behind and then had to score late to force overtime.
O’Reilly’s winner came with Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle serving a slashing penalty called in the overtime.
Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal was also called for charging with 28 seconds remaining in the third period. That Colorado power play carried over into the five-minute session, but the Avalanche couldn’t capitalize.
The two late penalties were key discussion points with Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett afterward.
Regarding last two penalties: “I think Hanz gets penalties because he’s a great, big guy," Tippett said. "The Yandle penalty was a penalty.”
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) November 22, 2013
On the Hanzal penalty: “If that’s a penalty there, the game is – there’s going to be no hitting soon,” Tippett said.
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) November 22, 2013
Tip: “In a tight game,mistakes matter. When you put a team on the power play twice in overtime,it usually comes back to bite you and it did.
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) November 22, 2013
Thursday was a tough night, physically, for some members of the Avalanche.
O’Reilly had four stitches thanks to a cut above his left eye, according to NHL.com, while defenseman Andre Benoit had to get repairs after taking a puck to the face in the second period.
Benoit returned to the game a short time later, scoring his first goal of the season. He added two assists for a three-point night.