The Toronto Maple Leafs couldn’t finish the job on Saturday.
The Colorado Avalanche fought back from a 4-2 deficit to beat the visiting Leafs 7-4, sending Toronto to its third loss in a row.
The Leafs are now four points behind the Florida Panthers for first in the Atlantic.
Nathan MacKinnon‘s power-play goal at 15:45 of the third broke a 4-4 tie. Valeri Nichushkin added an empty-net goal to complete his first career hat trick. MacKinnon then buried his 100th point of the season with a second empty-net goal.
Mitch Marner and John Tavares scored two goals apiece for the Leafs.
Joel Kiviranta and Jonathan Drouin also scored for the Avalanche, who have won five consecutive games.
The Leafs complete a three-game American trip Monday in Utah before coming home for four in a row.
