Rangers take Avalanche to overtime before losing on Nathan MacKinnon's highlight-reel goal

All losses are not the same. Sometimes, a team can lose a game, but if everyone knows, deep down, that they played well, then they can live with it.

That’s what happened to the Rangers Saturday afternoon against the high-flying Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado, the league's top team and looking to bounce back after suffering just its second regulation loss of the season Thursday against the Islanders, certainly presented the stiffest of challenges for the Blueshirts coming in. But at the same time, the Rangers entered having won two in a row and five of six, and they were playing some of their best hockey of the season. So, if there was a good time for the Blueshirts to take on the challenge of facing the top team in the NHL, now was it.

And the Rangers stood up to Colorado (20-2-6), battling them toe-to-toe all game, coming from behind twice, and forcing overtime when Artemi Panarin scored his 10th goal of the season with 40.9 seconds left in regulation.

In the end, Nathan MacKinnon had two goals, including the winner at 2:46 overtime when he scored a highlight-reel goal on a backhand shot, to deal the Rangers a 3-2 loss. But the Blueshirts came away feeling relatively good about themselves, and with a standings point to help in their battle to make the playoffs.

Absolutely NASTYYYYY pic.twitter.com/d0N3t8VX5G

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 6, 2025

“We feel not bad,’’ Panarin said, after the Rangers scored with their goalie pulled to tie the game for the second straight home game. “This game, I think we showed good hockey against that kind of team. They’re one of the top, probably, three teams in the league right now, right? So we have one point. We had a good game. We’ll try to build on that.’’

“Sometimes you lose and don’t feel good about it,’’ Rangers captain J.T. Miller said. “There’s other times you don’t get the result, but you can feel good and sleep tonight, knowing that you played a pretty good hockey game.’’

The Rangers (15-12-3) battled Colorado gamely for two periods, but trailed 1-0 entering the third period before forward Conor Sheary tied it with his first goal as a Ranger at 4:23. It was a big goal for the Rangers, and for Sheary, who has been a whipping boy for the fans on social media all season. It was his first NHL goal since April of 2024, after he spent nearly all of last season in the minor leagues.

“It's a relief to get one,’’ said Sheary, who made the Rangers in training camp after coming in on a tryout. “Hopefully I can build off that. But to contribute to the team, and help the team gain a point, I think, is really important.’’

MacKinnon, though, batted in a rebound with 4:34 remaining in regulation to put Colorado back in front, 2-1. The goal had to survive a check by the referees to make sure MacKinnon’s stick wasn’t too high – replays showed it was below the crossbar, and thus legal. Then the Avs looked as though they’d made it 3-1 on a goal by ex-Islander Brock Nelson with 4:08 left. That one didn’t survive video review, however, as the officials in Toronto ruled the puck never actually crossed the goal line.

The Rangers re-tied it when, with goalie Igor Shesterkin (39 saves) pulled for the extra skater, Panarin one-timed a pass from Mika Zibanejad through a crowd and past goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (24 saves) for his 901st career point.

Coming off two of their best games of the season in wins over Dallas and Ottawa, the Rangers started off strong against the Avalanche, including hitting the goalpost twice (on shots by Panarin and Will Cuylle) on their lone power play in the first period.

Still, the first period ended scoreless, and with the Rangers having a 10-9 edge in shots on goal. But Colorado got on the board on Parker Kelly’s goal at 7:06. Kelly, battling with Rangers defenseman Scott Morrow in front of the net, was down on one knee when he managed to get his stick up to deflect Sam Malinski’s right point shot past Shesterkin.

Notes & quotes: Goaltender Jonathan Quick, who missed six games with a lower-body injury, was activated off injured reserve and served as Shesterkin’s backup against the Avalanche. Spencer Martin was returned to AHL Hartford. Quick figures to start Sunday night at home against Vegas… Fourth-line forward Adam Edstrom missed his third game with a lower-body injury… D Urho Vaakanainen and winger Brennan Othmann were the scratches. After the game, Othmann was assigned to Hartford and Jaroslav Chmelar was recalled.