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.”

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Originally Published: January 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM MST

DENVER — The NWSL’s 16th team is headed to Denver for a record $110 million expansion fee, Sportico.com reported on Thursday.

It’s more than double the previous NWSL record for new teams and the largest expansion fee ever in U.S. women’s sports. Groups from Cleveland and Cincinnati were also finalists for the new franchise.

Sportico, citing anonymous sources because the details are private, reported that the Denver group had submitted its first payment to the league on Tuesday. The group is led by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen, who would become the team’s control owner, according to Sportico.

The NWSL added the Utah Royals and Bay FC last season. A Boston-based club will join the league in 2026 after agreeing to pay the same $53 million expansion fee as Bay FC.

The Cohen-led group also includes former Obama administration official Ben Hubbard, CEO of Denver-based insurance company Parsyl; sports business executive Tom Dunmore; Phos CEO Nicole Glaros and former NWSL player Jordan Angeli.

The group has said it would play in a temporary venue until it can build a soccer stadium.

— The Associated Press

The Denver Broncos had three players elected to the 2025 Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Thursday.

In addition to those players, eight other Broncos players were named alternates for the all-star game.

Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz (first alternate), long snapper Mitch Fraboni (first), kicker Wil Lutz (third), tackle Garett Bolles (third), fullback Mike Burton (fourth), defensive lineman Zach Allen (fourth), quarterback Bo Nix (fourth) and safety Brandon Jones (fifth) were named Pro Bowl alternates. They will be candidates to join the Pro Bowl roster if other players drop out.

1. Quinn Meinerz delivers big pancake blocks on a near-weekly basis and his 86.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranks fifth among NFL guards.

2. Mitchell Fraboni was named a PFF second-team All-Pro last season and he had another impressive campaign in 2024. He totaled five tackles on punt coverage after snapping to Dixon.

3. Wil Lutz converted 30 field goals this season, which ranked sixth in the AFC and seventh overall. His 90.9% field goal rate ranked fifth among qualified kickers in the AFC and he was one of nine full-time kickers to go 100% on extra point attempts this fall. Lutz was a perfect 11-of-11 on field goal attempts between 40-49 yards, the best mark at that range this season.

4. Garett Bolles was credited with allowing two sacks this season and his 88.8 pass-blocking grade on PFF ranks fifth in the NFL among offensive tackles.

5. Michael Burton is the No. 1-ranked fullback on PFF this season with an overall grade of 66.8 and a pass-blocking grade of 75.8. Burton is used primarily as a blocker, but he has also picked up six first downs and scored two touchdowns with six carries and 10 receptions this season.

6. Zach Allen has recorded 73 pressures, 8.5 sacks (tied for second among AFC interior defensive linemen), 39 QB hits, 34 hurries, 15 tackles behind the line, one safety and one pass breakup this season.

7. Bo Nix‘s 30 total touchdowns rank fourth in the AFC this season, only trailing Joe Burrow (44), Lamar Jackson (43) and Josh Allen (41). His long of 93 yards ranks third in the NFL and his 24 sacks are eighth-fewest among the league’s 32 quarterbacks.

8. Brandon Jones has totaled three interceptions this fall, tied for fourth-most in the AFC. His 114 tackles are a team-high in Denver. Jones also broke up 10 passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in 2024.

The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2. The NFC defeated the AFC 64-59 last season.