Cale Makar was denied a hat trick Sunday afternoon. He won the game for the Colorado Avalanche anyway. Makar came out of the penalty box, picked off a pass and set up Artturi Lehkonen with 14.7 seconds in the third period for the winning goal in a wild 5-4 victory for the Avs against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Cale Makar scored twice and set up the tiebreaking goal by Artturi Lehkonen with 15 seconds remaining as the revamped Colorado Avalanche blew a pair of two-goal leads before earning a dramatic 5-4 victory over the host New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (77) and assists (58). Among NHL defensemen, Makar is first in goals (18), tied for first in points (56) and being for second in assists (38). Necas is seventh in the NHL in assists (41).

Artturi Lehkonen scored the tiebreaking goal with 14.7 seconds left and Mackenzie Blackwood made 33 saves and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New York Rangers 5-4.

NEW YORK — Cale Makar was denied a hat trick Sunday afternoon ... goal in a wild 5-4 victory for the Avs against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Artemi Panarin tied this game ...

The #NYR have the distinction of allowing the first post-trade point to everyone in the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster. Rantanen and Taylor Hall each have assists tonight, their first points as Hurricanes. Jack Drury scored against NY on Sunday, and Martin Nečas had two assists.

Artturi Lehkonen scored the tiebreaking goal with 14.7 seconds left and the Avalanche defeated the Rangers 5-4 on Sunday.

Plus the Panthers’ declining rush game, extreme special teams in Vegas and a couple of goalies who are deserving of some recognition.

Many wonder how two new players have been notably productive in just three games with the Avalanche. It is a bit dumbfounding but the answer is simple.

The Blues are retooling around their young talent while trying to stay in the postseason picture. Their top three scorers -- Jordan Kyrou (21 goals, 21 assists), Dylan Holloway (16 goals, 22 assists) and Robert Thomas (12 goals, 24 assists) -- are age 26 and under.

The Avalanche shocked many with the trading of star Mikko Rantanen. But Colorado may not be done with trades -- and here are three areas the Avs' next trade could address.