Rangers cough up lead late in deflating OT loss to Avalanche

DENVER — This was not the kind of loss the Rangers have become accustomed to this season. 

Falling just short, 3-2 in overtime, to a strong Avalanche team Tuesday night at Ball Arena, the Rangers felt like they had the game in hand for 58 minutes before Colorado forced overtime with a late score in the third period and ultimately won on a goal from Devon Toews in the extra period. 

“They competed and did everything we wanted to do for 58 minutes,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of his team. “It’s really difficult walking away and not getting that extra point. Tie it up and even in overtime, looks and chances to win the game, we didn’t get it done. So that’s the frustrating part about it is to play so well for the 58 and then not to capitalize. 

“Guys played hard the entire night. It was a hard-fought game for us and didn’t get the results that we wanted.” 

Way too many of the losses that have piled up for the Rangers this season have been blowouts, multi-goal defeats with several defensive collapses or instances of losing their push altogether once a game gets out of hand. 

Tuesday night was far from that.