Colorado Avalanche News - Joel Forman: Game #14

Monday, February 18, 2013

Game #14 - Colorado 6, Nashville 5

Avalanche forwards Matt Duchene and PA Parenteau celebrate with Avs defenceman Tyson Barrie after scoring his 1st NHL goal

After Saturday's heartbreaking loss, the Avs responded with another flurry of goals to beat the Nashville Predators 6-5. The Avs, one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, have now scored 10 goals in their last 2 games. This game was not the best defensively, and a tough one for Chris Mason/Semyon Varlamov in net. The Avs opened the scoring as Aaron Palushaj got a lucky bounce of Chris Mason's leg, and doubled their lead on the PP as Tyson Barrie scored his 1st NHL goal. The Preds would get one late in the period, as Sergei Kostitsyn scored a PP goal of his own. The 2nd period was one of the wildest periods of hockey this season, with 7 goals including 3 in 29 seconds. Matt Duchene would restore the 3-1 lead as he came in all alone and roofed it over Mason, but not without controversy as he was about 5 feet offside and the ref missed it. The Preds would cut it to 3-2 as Mike Fisher tipped a Shea Weber blast past Varly, but that didn't last as Chuck Kobasew scored 50 seconds later to make it 4-2. The Preds would cut it to 4-3 as Colin Wilson beat Varlamov, but the Avs would storm back with 2 quick goals including Stastny 16 seconds later and McGinn 13 seconds after that (3 goals in 29 seconds) to make it 6-3. The Preds would get another late goal, as Jon Blum scored off Hejda's skate to make it 6-4. The crazy pace of the 2nd period would come to a halt in the 3rd, as both teams locked down defensively and Varlamv-Rinne played well (Rinne replaced Mason after allowing 6 goals on only 18 shots). The Preds would get a late goal from Shea Weber, but Varly shut the door in the final minute and the Avs walked away with 2 big points. Once again Matt Duchene was the best player on the ice, physically and on the score sheet. I thought that defensively the Avs playd poorly, but the one bright spot was Tyson Barrie scoring his 1st NHL game and really playing a strong game overall with over 22 minutes of icetime. I thought today was Paul Stastny's best game, him Jones and Palushaj were great on the forecheck and really provided a spark for the Avs. Stastny and Duchene were great on the 1st unit of the PK all game, as they killed off 4/5 Nashville PPs. The stats were as follows: 38-28 shots for Nashville, Avs won 39 of 68 faceoffs, Avs outhit them 25-16, and the biggest category in my opinion was shot-blocking (27-9 for the Avs, including 5 for Zanon and 2 that saved goals). Overall not the best game defensively for either teams, but a very exciting game and big W for the Avs

Three Stars:
3. Shea Weber - Weber had a goal and an assist, and played 25:32 of icetime in a great game
2. Aaron Palushaj - The newly acquired winger scored his 2nd goal of the season and added 2 assists for 3 points. Palushaj has really provided a spark for the injury-riddled Avs, especially in terms of sparking his linemates David Jones and Paul Stastny
1. Matt Duchene - Once again the best player on the ice, for either teams, and I probably sound like a broken record player because he has been the best Av on the ice every single game. Duchene had a goal and 2 assists in 22:12 of icetime, won 19 of 30 faceoffs, was +2 with 2 shots, 1 blocked shots and season-high 6 hits. Duchene now has goals in 4 straight games, and is riding a 4 game point streak (with 4 goals and 4 assists in that stretch)

Avalanche Play of the Game - Matt Duchene gets it today for his hustle on Jamie McGinn's goal, as he chased down Weber and completely threw him off the puck, stealing it from Shea and feeding McGinn who roofed it over Rinne for what would be the Avs 6th goal and eventual GWG. Duchene had several instances showing his strength today, but this was the best by far muscling a much bigger and stronger Shea Weber off the puck

Avalanche Misplay of the Game - Combination of Greg Zanon and Stefan Elliot gets it today, no particular play but they were caught in their own zone for several long shifts and really played a terrible game. Zanon was big on the PK, with 5 blocked shots including 2 that saved empty-nets

Game #15 - The Avs continue their 2-game home-stand with a game against the streaking St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night (@10pm)