Avalanche score 4 in 2nd period, beat Jets 5-2 and even first-round playoff series at 1-1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and assist and the Colorado Avalanche scored four goals in the second period in a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night to tie the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.

Miles Wood, Zach Parise, Josh Manson and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves for Colorado, a bounce-back effort after allowing seven goals on 23 shots in the series opener.

“They showed so much support to me over the last couple of days. A very rough first game, obviously,” said Georgiev, who allowed seven goals on 23 shots in Winnipeg’s 7-6 Game 1 victory on Sunday.

“I just felt so much trust in the room from everybody and I appreciate it so much. It helped me reset, to know that they have got my back. I know I’ll help them out as well during this playoff.”

David Gustaffson and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 of 31 shots.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday night in Denver.

Scheifele said the Jets probably didn’t test Georgiev enough.

“But he did make some big saves,” Scheifele acknowledged. “(Kyle Connor) hit the crossbar in that third period. We get some looks.

“He hits the post in the second period and then they go down and score shortly after. That’s playoffs, you know? We’ve just got to continue to make adjustments and try to find ways to get to the front of the net a little more and get a few more chances and get a bit more o-zone time.”

The Jets led 1-0 after the first period before Colorado took control with a 4-1 scoring edge in the second period that included three goals in the final 5:37 of the frame.

Winnipeg fans were razzing Georgiev from the start, giving the netminder a loud cheer when he made his first save of the game.

Gustafsson beat Georgiev 3:15 into the first period when he scored on a loose puck off a rebound. It was the fourth-line forward’s first career playoff goal in his fifth career postseason game.

The Avalanche trailed 9-2 in shots on goal about 13 minutes into the game. But Colorado rallied and led 15-12 in shots by the end of the period.

Wood tied it at 1:59 into the second period. Ross Colton won a faceoff and picked up an assist on Wood's goal.

The Avalanche went on a four-minute power play after Jets winger Kyle Connor received a double-minor for high-sticking Cale Makar. Colorado had one shot on net during the advantage.

“I think we need some more zone time,” Connor said of making Georgiev work harder. “We were just too quick on a lot of our plays. Getting shots blocked. They did a good job getting into lanes.”

Winnipeg responded 32 seconds after the penalty expired when Scheifele raced to the net and redirected a pass from Gabriel Vilardi at 8:37.

After Connor had a shot hit the post and bounce out, Colorado scored three in a row.

Lehkonen tipped in a Makar shot at 14:16 and Parise made it 3-2 three minutes later during a scramble for the puck in front of the Winnipeg net.

Manson came out of the penalty box for roughing and received a breakaway pass from Nathan MacKinnon, beating Hellebuyck with seven seconds remaining.

Jets defenseman Logan Stanley crushed Avs’ defenseman Sean Walker in the corner going for the puck nine minutes into the third. Walker headed to the locker room, while Stanley and Colorado forward Brandon Duhaime went to the penalty box for roughing.

Duhaime was again sent to the penalty box a few minutes later for interference, but Winnipeg couldn’t capitalize.

Nichushkin scored into an empty net with 57 seconds left.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his goal against the Colorado Avalanche with Neal Pionk (4) and Kyle Connor (81) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness speaks with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) after he was pulled for the extra attacker against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar (8) and Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) vie for a rebound during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save against Winnipeg Jets' Alex Iafallo (9) during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen (96) is tripped by Winnipeg Jets' Neal Pionk (4) during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Mikko Rantanen (96) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) as Colorado's Jack Johnson (3) defends during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche players celebrates the goal by Zach Parise against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta (94) looks for the loose puck in front of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche Zach Parise (9) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Josh Manson (42) and Yakov Trenin (73) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.

The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.

Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.

Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.

Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.

His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.

Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.

A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.

The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.

Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.

It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.

Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.

Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.

BREWERS' MOVE

The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea (48) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, and Willy Adames, right, collide after Adames caught a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)