The Colorado Avalanche entered the waning minutes of the second period with 2-0 lead and had realistic hopes of easing into a comfortable win, but the Vancouver Canucks had other plans and quickly knotted the game at 2-2.
After killing a power play to start the second period, the Avalanche held strong until an interference penalty on RW Steve Downie opened another opportunity. Colorado took advantage as LW Jamie McGinn fired a 22-foot wrister for a power play goal and a 2-0 Avalanche lead. But when a RW David Jones penalty gave the Canucks a power play with just under 5:00 remaining in the period, a LW Mason Raymond wristshot halved the Colorado advantage, 2-1.
Just moments later, right after the Avalanche had fired four consecutive shots on the Vancouver goal, the Canucks returend fire with a LW Chris Higgins 21-foot goal and a tied, 2-2 game.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Canucks blog Nucks Misconduct. And be sure to drop by SB Nation's NHL news hub for all the latest news and commentary from around the league.