Denver, CO
Devon Toews completes wild Avalanche comeback in 6-5 overtime win
They did it again.
For the second time this season, the Colorado Avalanche completed a remarkable comeback against the Buffalo Sabres. Devon Toews scored 48 seconds into overtime Thursday night to give the Avs a wild 6-5 victory at Ball Arena that was not without controversy or a cost.
“It felt great because our guys dug in and they got the win,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We needed that win and we wanted that win. I think that play … everyone on the team is pissed off so they dig in extra hard. I’m glad to see them get rewarded. I thought it was an unbelievable effort down the stretch.”
The play Bednar referenced was when this game took a wild turn early in the third period. Just 22 seconds after Ross Colton had brought Colorado to within a goal, Zach Benson scored to put Buffalo ahead 4-2.
Benson had been checked into the crease behind Wedgewood. After Wedgewood fell backwards onto him and was clearly injured, Benson got up and scored a wraparound goal while the Avs netminder was still writhing in pain.
Bednar went off on the officiating after the game, a move that will likely come with a fine from the NHL.
“Listen, this isn’t against the two refs that called the game tonight,” Bednar said. “It’s the inconsistency in that call. It seems pretty common sense to me, right? He’s hurt. The puck goes to the corner. He’s not getting up. Just blow it dead. … When you’re doing it for every other player on the ice, but you’re not going to do it for the goalie, that makes no sense to me.”
The Avalanche challenged for goaltender interference, but it was upheld. Wedgewood left the game and could not put any weight on his right leg.
Colorado’s new backup goaltender has been excellent since arriving in a trade from Nashville on Nov. 30. He was 4-2 with a .932 save percentage in six appearances since the deal.
“We need everyone,” Toews said. “We’re a family in here. We pick each other up. When one guy goes down, when (Wedgewood) went down, we were able to pick him up. It takes everyone.”
Colorado rallied after allowing the first three goals, then trailing 4-2 and 5-3. Jason Zucker scored his third goal of the night to give the Sabres a two-goal lead with 3:51 remaining, but the Avs stormed back yet again.
They also rallied for a 5-4 win at Buffalo last month after yielding the first four goals of the contest. This one might have been even more improbable.
Cale Makar had his second of the evening with 2:28 left and Jonathan Drouin sent it to overtime with eight seconds remaining on Nathan MacKinnon’s third assist of the contest. It was the latest game-tying goal for the Avs since a MacKinnon tally with seven seconds left at Tampa Bay on Jan. 17, 2015.
Buffalo took a pair of penalties shortly after the Benson tally, and Mikko Rantanen made it a one-goal game again on a one-timer from MacKinnon at 4:17 of the third. It was Rantanen’s team-leading 22nd goal, and one of three MacKinnon points to push his league-leading total to 64.
Zucker helped the Sabres build a 3-0 lead with a pair of power-play goals. Colorado’s penalty kill had been red hot coming into this game. The Avs had erased 23 of the past 25 opposing power plays during the past 11 games.
In between the first two Zucker goals, an old friend burned the Avs. Bo Bryam, playing in his first game at Ball Arena with the Sabres since he was traded to Buffalo before the deadline last season, got behind the Avalanche defensemen on a rush and tucked a pretty backhanded goal past Wedgewood.
The Avs traded Byram to Buffalo for Casey Mittelstadt in a swap of recent top-10 draft picks on March 6, shortly after sending Ryan Johansen and a first-round pick to Philadelphia for Sean Walker. It was Byram’s fifth goal of the season. He’s also averaging more than 23 minutes per contest while playing next to Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin on the top pairing.
Colorado had a MacKinnon goal waived off after an offsides review earlier in the second period. The Avalanche did get one back with 5:02 remaining in the second.
Makar took a drop pass from Drouin near the right point, then juked past Zucker before snapping a shot under the crossbar. His two-goal night gives him 13, which leads all NHL defensemen.
The second one began the late-game fireworks and kicked off another incredible comeback.
“I don’t even know what to say, to be honest,” Avs goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. “(I had) the best seat in the house. Obviously, it sucks for (Wedgewood). I feel bad for him. You never want to see anyone get hurt. That was tough. But the way we rallied back was fun to watch.”
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.
Originally Published:
The Mecca Sports Bar in Denver will be allowed to continue operations after it reached a settlement agreement with the city. According to the Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the business will be required to pay a $5,000 fine and have employees complete specialized training.
The bar had been under investigation for prostitution since 2024.
According to the Denver Police Department, there were two arrests for prostitution as a result of the investigation into the bar, in addition to a merchant guard license violation for failure to comply.
According to the city’s licensing department, the business will be under a probationary period, where if there are any other violations of law or rules and regulations, it could face harsher penalties, including license suspension or revocation.
Denver police investigators said they conducted three undercover prostitution stings at the bar. In every operation, officers said they were offered sex for money and told about a scheme where the women would overcharge for alcohol and keep the extra cash.
Mecca Sports Bar is located off West Mississippi Avenue and Federal Boulevard near Huston Lake Park and was formerly known as Club Dubai.
Denver, CO
Attorney for Denver Broncos defender Jonathon Cooper plays race card in domestic abuse case
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason and that continued Tuesday when his attorney claimed race played a role in the domestic abuse case involving the Black player and his White ex-girlfriend.
Both Cooper and Jade Fiegen were arrested two weeks ago when police arrived at the player’s Colorado residence and determined an altercation over the contents of each other’s phones had occurred, according to court records. But on Tuesday, the 23rd Judicial District Attorney in Douglas County dropped the charges against Fiegen.
The prosecutor also decided to continue with charges against Cooper — meaning the player still faces five charges, including second-degree assault-strangulation, which is a felony.
Jonathon Cooper of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Tyler Schank/Getty Images)
JONATHON COOPER BREAKS SILENCE AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE ARREST WITH AN APOLOGY
Cooper is expected to be in court on Wednesday but before that happened, the lawyers for both parties released statements to 9News and Cooper’s attorney cited race as the reason his client is still on the hook.
“White woman admits she was the aggressor,” Harvey Steinberg said in his statement to the TV station. “Admits she grabbed my client’s phone out of his hand. Admits she went through it without his permission. Admits she threw it against the wall, damaging it. She makes allegations against my client which police don’t appear to believe. Charges dismissed against white woman. Prosecution against Black man continues. Justice in America.”
Attorney Ronald Gainor, who represents Fiegen, offered a different perspective and took a vastly different approach.
He didn’t mention race.
“She should never have been charged in the first place and the decision today by the district attorney’s office confirms that,” Gainor said in his statement to 9News. “This decision really goes a long way in vindicating her and we’re very happy with the court’s decision today.”
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 5, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
Cooper’s attorney accusing the prosecution of favoring the woman because she’s White probably isn’t going to earn him points if this goes to trial. It’s borderline unbecoming.
But Cooper’s alleged offseason activity has been that as well.
The woman and Cooper were both arrested two weeks ago when an altercation began at Cooper’s residence over allegations of infidelity. That escalated into a physical struggle involving their cell phones, according to arrest records.
Fiegen accused Cooper of cheating on her despite the pair being in a four-year relationship.
NFL FACING OFFSEASON DOMESTIC ABUSE EPIDEMIC
Then things got weird.
Cooper apologized for the incident on his social media account.
Then, he was arrested a second time in a week and had to appear in court (again) when he violated a protection order. Cooper allegedly sent Fiegen a series of text messages and showed up outside her apartment.
That earned Cooper two more misdemeanor charges.
Denver Broncos star Jonathon Cooper was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief in Colorado. (Courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
So now Cooper faces five charges in total:
- Second-degree assault – strangulation
- Third-degree assault – knowingly or recklessly causing injury
- Criminal mischief – $300-$1,000
- Violating a protective order
- Harassment – repeated telephone calls
The Broncos, by the way, opened a mandatory minicamp on Tuesday but Cooper was not present because he was excused.
FORMER NFL FIRST-ROUND PICK DARRON LEE INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN GIRLFRIEND’S DEATH
“We’ve excused him from this minicamp,” coach Sean Payton told reporters. “He’s taking this time; obviously, he’s got to work on himself. The club is very much in tune to the league office, local authorities here, and we’ve had several meetings.
“Clearly, from an ownership standpoint, head coach, organizationally, there’s a bar we have and an expectation we have that’s very high. We’ll consider all that as we continue to gather information.”
That doesn’t sound like the Broncos are 100 percent certain Cooper will be able to play for them at the start of the 2026 season, or even be on the team.
It’s possible Cooper might be in jail.
It’s possible Cooper might have to serve an NFL-mandated suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
It’s possible the club simply decides Cooper, who has 27 sacks the past three seasons, isn’t worth the aggravation or distraction.
A troubling offseason can sometimes do that.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
-
World3 minutes agoFinland’s parliament votes to lift decades-old ban on nuclear weapons in historic NATO defense shift
-
Politics6 minutes agoTrump switches support in Oklahoma congressional race as formerly endorsed pastor candidate suspends campaign
-
Health11 minutes agoCure for certain cancers is ‘realistic’ goal in next decade, pharma lead says
-
Sports18 minutes agoTNA Wrestling hit with wave of departures
-
Technology21 minutes agoThief uses Waymo as a getaway car
-
Business26 minutes agoRivian lays off hundreds of workers days after new vehicle deliveries begin
-
Entertainment33 minutes agoWalter Parazaider, saxophonist and Chicago co-founder, dead at 81
-
Lifestyle36 minutes agoNow you can visit dozens of state historic parks for free through 2026. Here’s how
