Casey Mittelstadt's big night ensures the Avalanche's fifth straight win

The trade for Casey Mittelstadt looks pretty good so far.

Mittelstadt had three assists, including setting up the go-ahead goal with 6:31 left, and the Colorado Avalanche shook off a few minutes of lackluster hockey in the third period to beat the Ottawa Senators 5-4 at Ball Arena on Sunday night.

It's the Avs' fifth straight win since starting the season 0-4. It's also back-to-back three-point games for Mittelstadt, who joined the club from Buffalo before the transfer deadline last season and signed a three-year deal this offseason.

“Just having him last year and then seeing the work he did this summer, we knew this guy could find another gear,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Another step he can take in his game, like his complete game, but what will follow is production. He is a super talent. He sees things other guys can’t see and he makes plays other guys can’t make.”

Mittelstadt scored the first assist on all three goals. He's up to five goals and 12 points in nine games and has yet to play a minute this season with the two players who could ultimately be his wings – Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin.

He found O'Connor in front of the net and made the final score 3-2. Ross Colton continued his scoring streak, scoring his eighth goal of the season 90 seconds later. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal with 1:15 left to seal the win.

“(Mittelstadt) will find you anywhere. It’s crazy,” O’Connor said. “You just open up and… forehand, backhand, three guys on him, no room, he'll find you anyway. It's pretty remarkable. He’s honestly one of the best puck players I’ve ever played with.”

After Colorado held Ottawa at bay for nearly 50 minutes, the Senators scored two goals in 2:08 to even the score at 2-2. Brady Tkachuk had the first goal after Tyler Kleven's shot from the right point went wide. The rebound from the boards behind Justus Annunen landed directly at the left post for Tkachuk, who used it 10:45 minutes before the end of the third period.

Ottawa continued to press and scored another similar goal with 8:37 left. Nick Cousins ​​put the rebound of a shot from the left goal point into the goal after getting Colton into position near the right post.

Annunen allowed four goals in the final 11 minutes after conceding just four total goals in his previous 11 games, but the undermanned Avs remain in “two points, still possible” mode.

“I would say it was one of those games where we found a way,” O'Connor said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that How We wanted to win, but we will win this any day of the week.”