CALGARY, Alberta — Nathan MacKinnon came through in the clutch to the Avalanche — and showed why he’s among the NHL’s greatest players.A force all night, MacKinnon scored 8:27 into overtime as the Avalanche tied their first-round series with the Calgary Flames at a game apiece with a 3-2 win.

After Philipp Grubauer stopped Michael Frolik at one end, the puck went up ice at which a pass from Mikko Rantanen sprung MacKinnon down the left wing and the 23-year-old Avalanche center fired a perfect shot into the corner on Mike Smith.

“Mikko and I tried to get in front of the (forwards ) which has been on me,” MacKinnon said. “I got a measure and Mikko made a fantastic pass — a saucer pass. I managed to find another step on that weak-side D to get off a shot and I put it where I wanted to. ”

The snipe left even the opposition, coach — and his teammates — in awe.

“The man ’s a participant,” Smith said. “If you give him too many open looks, he’s going to find a way to get one past you. He ripped that one pretty good there. Obviously, you’d love to get a piece of it, but it is what it is. ”

MacKinnon tied in shots on goal for the team lead with seven and he led both teams.

His 26:26 in ice time was third behind teammates Tyson Barrie (28:13) and Flames captain Mark Giordano (28:55), both defenseman.

“I’ve said it before: Nate’s a superstar and that’s what superstars do,” linemate Gabriel Landeskog stated.

Grubauer finished with 35 saves, and Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said his staff could be down two games if not s functionality.

“First of all, (Grubauer) makes the save and it’s a big save because of the time and the score and you’re in overtime and he left a lot of big saves tonight, as did Smith, but to give us that save at that moment,” Bednar said.

“Then we get up the ice and (Rantanen) and (MacKinnon) execute unbelievably and we get the goal. ”

Matt Nieto and J.T. Compher also scored for the Avalanche.

Rasmus Andersson and Sean Monahan responded for the Flames.

The show continues Monday night at the Pepsi Center.

“They seemed more hungry than us. Seemed like they wanted it more ” stated Flames left winger Sam Bennett, who had two assists.

“No one is pleased. (Smith) bailed us out too many times to count. He’s been playing great and we’ve got to do a better job facing him. ”

The Avalanche tied it 2-2 at 17:21 of the next phase on Compher’s first career playoff goal, the result of some fortuitous bouncing of the puck.

Rantanen’s pass banked off the skate of Gabriel Landeskogoff both skates of Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic, before Compher shoveled a backhand over a sprawled Smith.

Monahan had given Calgary its first lead of the night at 12:27 of the third on some comparable puck luck.

After winning a faceoff in the offensive zone, Monahan went to the front of the net.

Johnny Gaudreau’s first shot didn’t get through to the net, nor did Bennett’s shot effort shortly after — but Monahan’s third attempt went to the corner, over the glove of Grubauer.

The Avalanche were the better team most of the night, particularly in a scoreless first period, outshooting Calgary 15-10 and carrying it to the Flames physically.

But like in Game 1 when he posted a shutout, Smith was excellent.

The Avalanche’s best chance in the opening 20 minutes was Landeskog’s off TJ Brodie’s giveaway, where Smith denied him when he tried to go five-hole.

At the next period with the score 1-1, Smith stared down Landeskog again on a breakaway and denied himthis time with a blocker save.

In a period of momentum swings, Calgary tied it 1-1 at 12:26 on Andersson’s first career playoff goal.

On a power play, Bennett backed out front from behind the net before zipping a no-look backhand pass across to Andersson, who had an empty net.

“We have to be better,” Giordano said. “We have to be a lot more difficult to play against and we understand that. A way got to deal with them and move on. ”

Nieto gave the Avalanche their first objective of the series when he stripped the puck from Brodie at Colorado’s blue line and raced away on a breakaway, choosing the corner over Smith’s glove.

“We’ve always had the confidence in tonight and this area shows it,” Nieto said. “Down late or running into a hot goalie, we know we can win games against this team. We’re thrilled to be going back 1-1 and get back in front of that Pepsi Center crowd and try to find a lead in the show. ”

Buy Tickets for every event – Sports, Concerts, Festivals and more buytickets.com