Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie Nathan MacKinnon set up Andre Benoit for the game-winning goal with 31.4 seconds left in overtime as the Colorado Avalanche edged Detroit, 3-2, on a night former defenseman Nicklas Lindstrom was immortalized by the Red Wings.
Benoit was alone in the left circle and one-timed MacKinnon's pass from the right side of the net high over Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard.
"When you give a player like MacKinnon that much time, he's gonna find the open man," said Howard, who stopped 22 shots.
The assist gave MacKinnon a point in 13 consecutive games, passing Wayne Gretzky for the longest point streak by an 18-year-old. Gretzky went 12 straight games with a point from Dec. 9, 1979-Jan. 5, 1980.
Matt Duchene had a goal and assisted on P.A. Parenteau's tying goal in the third period for Colorado, which has won four games in a row and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Red Wings.
"I think (the Red Wings) wanted to win this game for Lidstrom and I thought they did a lot of good things out there," Colorado head coach Patrick Roy said. "We found a way to win this hockey game."
The Avalanche are third in the Central Division, one point back of second- place Chicago and three behind St. Louis for first.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned away 35 Detroit shots.
Niklas Kronwall and Tomas Jurco scored for Detroit, which lost its second straight game on the night Lindstrom's No. 5 was raised to the rafters during a lavish pre-game ceremony.
Parenteau pulled the visitors even at 2-2. Duchene worked hard behind the Detroit net to protect the puck from Johan Franzen and he eventually got it out front to Parenteau, who backhanded the puck home at the 5:49 mark.
Kronwall gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead, roofing a backhander from the bottom of the right circle on the short side of Giguere and inside the near post at 12:33 of the first period.
Duchene tied things at midway through the second period. He collected a carom off the end boards in the slot and put in a shot off Franzen's right skate at 10:11.
Colorado defenseman Nick Holden was called for tripping on the next shift, curbing his team's momentum.
Detroit quickly reclaimed the lead on the ensuing power play as Jurco scored from the doorstep at 12:10.
Game Notes
Lidstrom's number is the seventh retired by the Red Wings, joining Terry Sawchuk (1), Ted Lindsay (7), Gordie Howe (9), Alex Delvecchio (10), Sid Abel (12) and Steve Yzerman (19) ... MacKinnon has five goals and 13 assists during his streak ... The Avalanche improved to 5-14-2 when trailing after two periods this season.
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