Good & Bad
The Aftermath: Avalanche Secure Point, Fall in Shootout to Surging Minnesota Wild
The Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak has come to an end, but their 15-game undefeated streak is still intact.
Colorado got a late third-period tally from captain Gabe Landeskog to force overtime. It had the better chances in the extra period but was unsuccessful in the eventual shootout, falling 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild.
The Avs are 12-0-3 since suffering their only regulation loss way back on Oct. 25 in Boston.
Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring in the first period. His 19th of the season (and 40th point) gave Colorado a 1-0 lead against the red-hot Jesper Wallstedt. Minnesota’s netminder had shutouts in three of his last four previous starts.
MacKinnon, who became the first player to 40 points, ended up assisting on the Landeskog game-tying goal with just under nine minutes remaining in regulation.
Colorado needed to tie up because Minnesota scored twice in the second. The back-and-forth offensive battle was one of the more entertaining games of the year. Both Wallstedt and the Avs’ Scott Wedgewood were matching each other save for save.
And that was with the majority of the game being played at five-on-five. Only two minor penalties were called; one for each team. Both power plays did not convert.
Wedgewood finished the night with 35 saves on 37 shots. He did not face any shots in the overtime period. Wallstedt, who is 7-0-2 this season, made 39 saves, including three in OT.
Positives: No Quit.
This game always felt like it would be a challenge. The Avs have played a lot of hockey and all streaks eventually end.
The best part of their performance tonight was the no quit mentality from this team in the third period. Running into a hot goalie could take the energy out of a lot of teams. But the Avalanche stuck to their game, did what they always do in third periods, and outscored the opposition.
Kudos to Landeskog for getting the all-important tally and keeping Colorado’s undefeated streak alive.
Negatives: Second Period Struggle
In all likelihood, a better second period out of the Avalanche would’ve probably changed the final result of this game. Colorado was outshot 14-8 in the middle frame and outscored 2-0. The Wild pressed for more than 10 minutes before they finally broke through.
They ended Wedgewood’s shutout bid with eight minutes remaining in the period and added another goal six minutes later. If anything, the Avs are lucky that Wedgewood was as dialed in as he was. Otherwise, they likely would’ve been chasing a two-goal deficit in the third period.
What is it going to take to do away with the current overtime format? 65 minutes of great hockey, only to thud at the end with an un-exciting shootout. The players hate it, the fans are bored with it, it needs to change. I understand that the ice quality doesn’t lend itself to a full 10 minute overtime in the regular season, but I’d still rather have that additional 5 minutes instead of the two teams playing conservative 3-on-3 for the truncated period. Aside from that, a very good game by both teams, both with outstanding goalies. I’m actually kind… Read more »
Do the Avalanche have their goalies practice shoot outs? We probably have the worst goalies for a shoot out? Neither seem to be able to win?
Bednar said a few weeks ago that they don’t practice much 3v3 or shootouts.
Stupid is as stupid does. Sorry. To not devote some time to practicing 3 on 3 or SO Hockey is typical of Bednar who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Who cares? Every point counts and to not practice these situations that count for six games already (and the loss of 6 points) is sheer stupidity. There should be a breakdown of every opposing player and his tendencies in the SO. Probably not important to Bedsie.
I say who cares. OT and SO are not going to keep the team out of the playoffs. Once in, no more 3v3 or SO. So again, who cares? No reason to distract 2 tendys who are playing well with worries about extra session.
No but they will keep us from home ice against Dallas. In case you haven’t noticed they are not that far back. Going 50% in extra time could be that difference.
Home ice is about money. Go look at the Avs game 7 history. It doesn’t matter where they play. They can lose game 7 anywhere.
Then show me the money Kenny. I’ll chance a Game 7 on home ice six days a week and twice on Sunday before chancing it on the road.
Not a bad loss, they had a good forecheck and we got stuck in our end too much. Wedge gave us a chance to win.
Good move by Bednar to switch Landeskog and Necas. The Eriksson-Ek line had pretty much shut down the MacKinnon line up until then, but the extra physicality of Landeskog seemed to change that. And great effort by the captain on his goal. Nelson’s play did not impress though. I thought he was really bad in this one. A couple of awful turnovers and not much else. Malinski was great! It is probably a bit unfair to Girard, considering that he is playing on his off side, but he looks like the sixth defenseman on the depth chart right now. The… Read more »
I thought our Captain looked really strong on his skates. He had the tying goal and clanked one off the goalpost in OT. Wait until the end of this season and playoffs before you make the final judgment on Landy.