Avalanche Fall Behind, Can’t Battle Back Against Pastrnak-Led Bruins

There is no better team in the NHL at coming from behind than the Colorado Avalanche, but having to do it every night is certainly not a recipe for success.

Especially against some of the better teams in the league.

The Avalanche spotted the home team three goals in the first 15 minutes of the game, and could never even the game up, falling 5-2 to the Boston Bruins. Colorado was far too inconsistent from period-to-period, and really only played well in the middle session. That’s not good enough against a team like the Bruins.

Miles Wood and Nathan MacKinnon scored the goals for Colorado. In net, Alexandar Georgiev gave up four goals on 30 shots, making it seven of eight games with a save percentage below .900 in 2024. He didn’t get a lot of help at times, but goaltending continues to be a sore spot for this team.

First Period

The Avalanche gave up three goals to the Bruins over a week ago at Ball Arena. Boston managed to equal that in under 15 minutes on Thursday night.

It started early. Really early. First shift of the game early, as Cale Makar thought he was about to break out for an odd-man rush the other way. Instead, Charlie Coyle poked the puck off his stick, right onto David Pastrnak’s. That’s the wrong guy to turn the puck over to. Pastrnak turned and fired a puck over Georgiev’s shoulder, and just 44 seconds into the game, it was 1-0 Boston.

Four minutes later, they added to their lead. Jack Johnson went to clear it up the boards, but Hampus Lindholm beat his winger to the puck. He sent it to Morgan Geekie, who reversed course and sent it to Lauko on the other side of the ice. Malinski couldn’t quite get there, and Lauko put the puck into an empty net, making it 2-0.

Colorado got their first powerplay of the game on a play I wouldn’t necessarily call a penalty, but you take what you can get. The top powerplay unit sputtered out, but for the second straight game, the second unit came through. Devon Toews’ initial shot was stopped, and Miles Wood smacked at the rebound. His first attempt missed the net, but it bounced off the boards and he roofed his second attempt, scoring his second goal in as many games.

A wild period got a little wilder around the 15 minute mark. The Bruins scored a really nice goal, as Jake Debrusk deflected a pass in the high slot past Georgiev, making it 3-1. The goals as not without controversy, though. Colorado challenged the goal for offsides, and the replays seemed to show Zacha entering the zone before he got the puck, but the goal was allowed to stand. Replays didn’t exactly make the call any clearer, but nothing would change.

Because the challenge failed, Boston was given a powerplay, and Alexandar Georgiev was forced to make some big saves to keep the score the same. The Avalanche did a lot of chasing in their own end in the first, especially their top players, and might have been lucky to be down just two heading into the intermission.

Second Period

After a slow first period, the Avalanche really found their legs in the second. It’s possible Boston sat back a bit after getting off to such a strong start, but Colorado looked like a different team. They outshot the Bruins 18-8 in the middle session, and cut into the lead, although it might have taken a bit too long.

Nearly 17 minutes into the period, a one-timer by Josh Manson fooled Swayman, as he really didn’t get a whole lot on it. It somehow snuck behind Swayman, and Nathan MacKinnon was there to clean up the rebound, making it 3-2. With the goal, MacKinnon extended his point streak to 10 games. Cale Makar picked up an assist on the play, giving him 299 career points.

The Avalanche had plenty of other chances to get the game even. The line of Miles Wood, Ross Colton, and Logan O’Connor was consistently dangerous, creating chances in and around the net, but couldn’t get the equalizer. Colorado’s best chance to tie things up came off the stick of Devon Toews, but Swayman somehow gloved his wrist shot through a screen.

Colorado has worked a lot of magic this year coming back in games, but could they do it again?

Third Period

Short answer? No. The Bruins are one of the better defensive teams in the league, and that was on display in the third period. They held the Avalanche to just nine shot attempts and two shots on goal in 14+ minutes of even strength time, and Colorado’s stars looked a little tired.

Any attempt at a comeback essentially ended with five minutes to go. Josh Manson got caught for his second penalty of the game, and the Bruins took advantage. After a scrum along the wall, Pastrnak somehow snuck away from everyone. Debrusk hit him for an easy tap-in on the back door, and it was 4-2.

The Avalanche pulled Georgiev to try to tie things up, but never really got set up. Pastrnak added an empty netter goal to complete the Hat Trick, and the game was over.

Colorado will finish off this five game road trip on Saturday when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers. That game starts at 11 AM MST.