Avs-Blues Live: Second period analysis

Twenty minutes to go, down 2-1. That’s the predicament for the Avs here at Ball Arena against the St. Louis Blues. Remember all those preseason predictions that the West Division would be a two-team race, between the Avs and Vegas? Yeah, I think the Blues are gonna have something to say about that.

The Blues are still very big and tough and play good, fundamental hockey. It was a pretty evenly-played period here, but the Avs did get 15 shots, to seven for the Blues. Thing is, I thought the Blues had the best couple of scoring chances. David Perron hit the crossbar in the last few minutes on a point-blank chance between the circles.

The Avs’ power play hasn’t been great since that early Burakovsky goal. A little too much overpassing, a little too perimeter overall.

Devon Toews has been back, playing a regular shift after leaving in the first for a concussion protocol.

The Avs’ second line of Landeskog-Kadri-Saad has had a rough first couple periods. They were on the ice for both Blues goals and aren’t getting anything accomplished offensively.

Here’s the “sheet” after two periods: