The Avalanche win Game 3 after a failed goalie interference challenge

Saturday's Game 3 between Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche saw a dramatic shift in momentum and a change in the scoreboard after the call.

Gabe Landeskog gave Colorado a 4-3 lead in the second period at Bridgestone Arena on a one-timer.

Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen collided with Nashville goaltender Connor Ingram during the play, prompting a goalie interference challenge from the Predators.

Replays showed that Lehkonen's right skate was upon Ingram's left leg pad as the shot went into the net, and Ingram pointed to Lehkonen after the goal. Even though Mikael Granlund of Nashville and Lekhonen were battled in front of the net, it looked like Lekhonen went into the crease on his own accord.

Ex-NHL referee Don Koharski, a TNT analyst, indicated that he immediately felt it would be goalie interference on the game broadcast.

"(Lekhonen) has every opportunity to try to avoid this goaltender," Koharski said. "I'm going to tell you this is going to be turned over and there is going to be a power play here. I'd be shocked if they don't."

The top-seeded Avalanche won 7-3 on Saturday, taking a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.

Goal interference ruling

The goal was allowed to stand by the NHL's Toronto situation room. The NHL issued a statement later in the day.

"Video review confirmed the actions of Nashville's Mikael Granlund caused Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen to contact Connor Ingram prior to Gabriel Landeskog's goal," it said.

The Avalanche returned to the power play after the challenge failed. Connor Ingram's blunder in the Colorado goalie's net allowed the Predators to score instantly. The Avalanche led 5-3 instead of tying the game at 3-3.

A common criticism among NHL media members and fans is that goaltender interference rulings and inconsistent reviews. Goalie interference raises a lot of issues and involves a lot of variables.

Aside from the goaltender, officials must consider how defenders enter the crease and their contacts with attackers.

Predators vs Avalanche match highlights

Landeskog had two assists during the game, with Cale Makar contributing three assists. Colorado went 4 for five on the power play, with Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews, Artturi Lehkonen, and Nathan MacKinnon all scored, forced Nashville to the edge of elimination.

Valeri Nichushkin scored with 2:46 left. After pulling goaltender Connor Ingram with almost 4 minutes left, the Avs squandered a few chances.

Darcy Kuemper got wounded with a minute left in the first. In his sixth career postseason appearance, Pavel Francouz made 18 saves.

With 56.6 seconds left in the first, Johansen's stick hit the Avalanche goaltender in the face. Kuemper ripped off his mask and slid to the locker room, holding a towel to his face. Francouz then replaced him in the net.

Matt Duchene, Eeli Tolvanen, and Roman Josi contributed one goal, while Alexandre Carrier contributed two assists. Midway through the first, Lehkonen scored again for the Avs and redirected a slap shot by Toews. At 16:07, MacKinnon made it 2-0 with the Avs' man advantage.

In the second, Tolvanen scored from the left face-off circle at 5:41. Midway through the second, Landeskog beat Ingram with a backhander on the man advantage, and Josi knotted it at 12:11. Landeskog scored his second goal at 14:02.

Ingram mishandled the puck behind the net, and Kadri scored into an open net 39 seconds later to make it 5-3. Toews later extended the lead with a shot from the left circle in the third.