Avalanche defeat Islanders, set NHL record for road winning streak

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Mikko Rantanen had a goal and three assists for the Colorado Avalanche, who set an NHL record with a 7-4 win against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday.

Colorado has won 15 straight regular-season games on the road dating to last season, passing the Buffalo Sabres (14 straight from April 3-Nov. 13, 2006) for the longest road winning streak (spanning seasons or otherwise) in League history.

“I think it’s the confidence and character in our group,” said Avalanche forward Ryan Johansen, who scored two goals. “It’s the belief. That’s a big positive in our group right now, just seeing that belief within the group right now. We keep pressing on when the bounce doesn’t go our way, and that’s a great sign.”

Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, and Valeri Nichushkin had two assists for the Avalanche (6-0-0), who tied their longest season-opening winning streak (2013-14) since relocating from Quebec prior to the 1995-96 season. Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves.

"We are fortunate to be 6-0. The guys realize that” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “We are still trying to improve.

"It was a shooter's night on both sides. A little bit of a strange game, but I did like the way we capitalized late."

Cal Clutterbuck had a goal and an assist, and Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each had two assists for the Islanders (2-2-1), who have lost three straight. Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves.

“It's one of the best offensive teams and [the best] top six in the world,” Clutterbuck said. “Sometimes the pucks are going to go in the net, and you're not going to be able to hold the team to one or two every night. And sometimes you have to be able to keep pace, and we just were one short.”

Anders Lee scored his first of the season from the high slot to tie it 4-4 at 4:40 of the third period.

Rantanen put the Avalanche back in front 5-4 at 7:47. He scored five-hole from the right circle off a cross-ice backhand pass from Tomas Tatar, who took a hit along the boards from Adam Pelech to make the play.

Johansen scored into an empty net to make it 6-4 at 19:00. Ross Colton was then credited with the goal that made it 7-4 at 19:29 after Brock Nelson inadvertently passed the puck into his own empty net.

“I don’t know if we need a system overhaul,” Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “I think we just need to clean it up.”

Johansen gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 5:19 of the first period, scoring with a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-slot backhand pass from Rantanen on a power play.

"We kept working hard all night, and we just have to keep working hard, practicing and getting our team game better and better," Johansen said.

"We were not perfect, but our confidence is growing as a group."

Clutterbuck tied it 1-1 at 10:03 of the first when he deflected in Dobson's slap shot from the point.

Makar responded to make it 2-1 at 12:52. He skated into the zone, got around Pulock, and roofed a shot over Sorokin with his backhand.

"I liked our first period. We set the pace. It was really good," Bednar said. "They pushed harder in the second, and we didn't handle it well. When we made mistakes, they capitalized."

Kyle Palmieri tied it 2-2 at 2:56 of the second period, curling out from along the goal line for a power-play goal.

Simon Holmstrom gave New York a 3-2 lead at 5:55 when he beat Georgiev glove side from the right circle.

Bowen Byram tied it at 3-3 from the high slot at 19:18, and Nathan MacKinnon gave Colorado a 4-3 lead 13 seconds later after Clutterbuck couldn't control the puck along the left boards.

"We had a lot of chances, and we were rewarded with a team win,” Colton said. “This was another step in the right direction. For us, it's all about focus. And Georgiev played really well."

NOTES: The longest season-opening winning streak in Colorado/Quebec Nordiques history is seven (1985-86). ... Rantanen extended his point streak to four games (three goals, five assists). ... Makar has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past two games. ... Georgiev is 6-0-0 this season. He is the eighth goaltender in NHL history to win each of his team's first six games of a season. ... Dobson (one goal, four assists) and Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (one goal, three assists) each extended his point streak to four games.