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Kuemper stops 49 shots in Coyotes’ 4-2 win over Avalanche
Avalanche Coyotes Hockey - AP Photo/JASON FRANSON

Kuemper stops 49 shots in Coyotes’ 4-2 win over Avalanche

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Darcy Kuemper stopped 49 shots and the Arizona Coyotes held on to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday to close within 2-1 in their Stanley Cup playoff series.

Arizona took the early lead on Derek Stepan’s first-period goal, then spent most of the day counterpunching against Colorado’s relentless pressure.

Andre Burakovsky tied it in the second period during one Avalanche flurry, but Brad Richardson Richardson put the Coyotes up 2-1 in the closing seconds.

Kuemper took made a series of difficult saves in the third period and Taylor Hall scored on an empty net, seemingly sealing it.

Mikko Rantanen gave Colorado life, following Hall’s goal by scoring with 1:03 left. Lawson Crouse finally put it out of reach with an empty-net goal to give Arizona life heading into Game 4 on Monday.

Colorado ‘s Pavel Francouz stopped 19 shots.

Colorado took advantage of Arizona’s tentative play with three goals in the third period to win Game 1. The Coyotes were far more aggressive in Game 2, yet the Avalanche won 3-2 on Burakovsky’s goal with 2:53 left in regulation.

Arizona had the early buzz going again in Game 3 and capitalized early when Stepan one-timed a shot from just outside the crease on a pass from behind by Clayton Keller.

Colorado picked up the pressure after Arizona took its first lead of the series, but Kuemper was sharp, turning away a franchise postseason-record 20 shots in the first period.

The Avs continued the attack in the second period and tied it when Burakovky’s shot caromed off Arizona defenseman Alex Goligoski’s leg past Kuemper, right after the second of consecutive power plays.

Arizona snatched the momentum back with 34 seconds left in the second period, taking a 2-1 lead on Richardson’s wrister from the left circle past Francouz.

The Coyotes spent most of the third period in their own end, but Kuemper bailed them out time and again with spectacular saves before the two empty-net goals sealed it.

Notes: Arizona was without leading scorer Nick Schmlatz for the seventh straight game due to a head injury suffered in an exhibition game. … The Avalanche played their 200th playoff game since moving to Denver in 1995. … Colorado C Vladislav Namestrikov was out after leaving the second period of Game 2 with an injury, but RW Joonas Donskoi returned after missing a game. … Arizona is 0 for 9 on the power play in the series after failing in three chances with the man advantage in Game 3.

UP NEXT

Game 4 is Monday in Edmonton.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports