For one minute and 34 seconds, the Maple Leafs looked like they were going to cool off the hottest team in the NHL.
The Avalanche extended their winning streak to 10 consecutive games, the second-longest in franchise history, with a 4-2 victory Monday at Air Canada Centre. But the Maple Leafs did something that no other team has done this calendar year by taking a lead over Colorado.
It didn't last long.
Minutes after having a goal overturned due to goaltender interference, Auston Matthews set the puck soaring past Jonathan Bernier to give Toronto a 2-1 edge in the second period. It was the first time the Avalanche trailed in the past nine games, dating back to their last game against Toronto on Dec. 29.
Less than two minutes later, Nail Yakupov tied it up at 2-2 and it stayed that way going into the third.
After a goal from Blake Comeau gave Colorado a lead, Gabriel Landeskog secured the win with an empty net goal in the final minute of regulation.
Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves and became the third goaltender in Avalanche history to reach at least nine consecutive wins, posting a 1.60 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage for the month of January.
Meanwhile... #Avalanche pic.twitter.com/8xXRvccyt6
— Nate Lundy (@natelundy) January 23, 2018
The Leafs did manage to cool down Nathan MacKinnon, whose nine-game point streak came to an end at eight goals and 11 assists. Despite taking four shots, the centerman couldn't get one past Frederik Anderson, who made 23 saves on the 26 shots he faced.
The Avalanche began their win streak with a 4-3 overtime win over Toronto in December and extended it against them almost a month later.
Colorado continues its road trip Tuesday against Montreal and finishes up Thursday in St. Louis, where they could match the franchise record of 12 straight wins.