Good & Bad: Avalanche’s Late Comeback Falls Short in St. Louis

For the third time in 20 games, the Avalanche were handed a regulation loss by the sizzling hot St. Louis Blues.

Colorado trailed by four goals on Saturday before the late comeback was cut short late in the third period. The score ended 5-4 in favor of the home team, pushing the Avalanche to 47-27-4 with four games remaining in the regular season.

Ross Colton, Miles Wood, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sam Malinski scored for the Avs, who have two games remaining at home and two on the road.

The Blues came out strong and mounted a 2-0 lead by the first intermission. The difference in the opening period was special teams, where Colorado struggled to break through on goalie Jordan Binnington despite putting nine shots on goal on three man-advantage opportunities. Those were the only three penalties called on the Blues all game.

At the other end, St. Louis scored on the power play in the opening minute and added another tally in the second period to finish 2-for-3. Jim Montgomery’s club, which broke a franchise record, winning 12 straight games, had a 4-0 lead before the Avs finally ended the shutout bid.

First, a strong forecheck from Logan O’Connor forced a turnover, and he set up Colton to make it 4-1 with less than five minutes remaining in the second. Just over two minutes later, Charlie Coyle set up Wood to make it 4-2.

Eventually, Mackenzie Blackwood pulled for the extra attacker, and MacKinnon beat Binnington to make it 4-3. Colorado pulled its goalie again, but an empty-netter from Robert Thomas sealed the win at 19:29. Thomas finished with four points.

Malinski added a goal with nine seconds left for good measure.

The Avs outshot St. Louis 39-22 but fell to 0-3 against Binnington. Blackwood made 17 saves.

Good: Miles Wood Slowly Finding His Game

Coming off a game against Columbus where Wood and Coyle each set the other up for a goal, the duo combined for another tally against Binnington and the Blues.

Wood’s goal totals went from two to four during this road trip, and it couldn’t come at a better time. He was only inserted back into the lineup because of the injuries to Martin Necas and Jonathan Drouin, but he’s taking full advantage.

Everything about his game has looked better this week.

The offensive production isn’t the only difference. He’s not taking bad penalties anymore, he’s playing more physically responsible, and the confidence seems to be creeping back into his game.

All of his negative impacts throughout the season could be erased pretty quickly if he suddenly becomes a useful piece for the playoffs. The Avs could use the depth.

Bad: Blackwood’s Second Straight Rough Performance

The Avs’ starting goalie gave up three goals in Columbus and another four against the Blues. In comparison, he gave up just four combined over his three previous starts.

It’s not just the number of goals, but it’s how they’re going in. The sharpness isn’t quite there, and he’s fighting it a bit.

Is it time to panic? Probably not.

It’s worth noting that the entire team has sort of mailed in the past few games. Blackwood deserves the same benefit of the doubt. Also, we all remember how bad Alexandar Georgiev looked heading into the playoffs before righting the ship after that brutal Game 1 in Winnipeg.

Again, it’s nothing to worry about, at least not yet. But it’s still two tough performances in a row.