Colorado Avalanche News - Joel Forman: Game #23

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Game #23 - Colorado 6, Chicago 2

Avs forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene celebrate O'Reilly's 1st goal of the season

THE STREAK IS OVER! THE STREAK IS OVER! THE STREAK IS OVER! What a game by the Avalanche, they are the first team to beat he Hawks in regulation this season (now 21-1-3). The Avs got burned in Chicago 2 nights ago, with a last minute goal sending the Hawks to a 3-2 win and leaving the Avs heading home after a dismal road trip. The Avs outplayed the Hawks 2 nights ago and came up empty, but that wasn't the case tonight. The Hawks got things going in the 1st, after a terrible give-away by Hunwick Toews would put them up 1-0 (2nd goal in as many games against the Avs). After a sloppy start the Avs would fight back, and they really pushed the pace the last 10 minutes of the 1st. On the PP late in the period, Ryan O'Reilly saved a puck at the blueline and fed PA Parenteau who quickly hit Duchene at the point, and Dutchy fired a slap-pass to Paul Stastny who tipped it past Crawford for the 1-1 tie. The Avs would outshoot the Hawks 10-6 in the 1st, and really looked to carry that momentum into the 2nd, and did they ever. Matt Duchene got things going for the Avs, as he took an Erik Johnson feed and roofed a backhand past Crawford for the 2-1 lead (Johnson playing in his 1st game back from a concussion, where he missed 11 games). Just 33 seconds later the Avs took a 3-1 lead, as Ryan O'Reilly made another great play and found John Mitchell who beat Crawford for his 8th goal of the season. Back on the PP at the midway point of the period, the Avs went up 4-1 as a clean faceoff win by Stastny went to Duchene, who teed it up for Ryan O'Reilly who fired a rocket past Crawford for his 1st of the season. A few minutes later the Avs would go up 5-1, thanks to another great play by Matt Duchene who hustled to a loose puck and fed McGinn out front, who roofed it past Crawford for the 4th Avs goal of the period. The Avs took a commanding 5-1 lead into the 3rd, and didn't let up as both teams had good chances (Emery was now in net for the Hawks). The Hawks would get one back as Bryan Bickell beat Varlamov with a shot, but that was as close as the Hawks would get. On a late 4-on-4 PA Parenteau took a great Paul Stastny feed and beat Emery for the 6-2 lead. Late in the game Gabriel Landeskog had a great shift and threw a big hit on Brent Seabrook, and Bickell retaliated and tried to fight Landy, dropping the gloves in the first place. Landeskog has no business fighting that goon, and he just got back from a concussion, just a disrespectful play by Bickell and the Avs took exception and defended their captain. The Avs would end with a 6-2 win, with "END OF STREAK" chants filling the Pepsi Center, what a game. The stats were as follows: Shots were 33-31 Hawks, Avs won 36 of 55 faceoffs (65%), Avs outhit them 21-12 and had 20 shotblocks to the Hawks 13. A quiet but solid performance by Semyon Varlamov in net, who was overshadowed by 6 different Avs forwards with a goal. A big difference tonight was the powerplay, where the Avs had their first game with more then 1 PPG. The Avs went with a new-look 1st unit with 5 forwards, Stastny Parenteau Landeskog upfront with Duchene and O'Reilly on the Point. The 1st unit got goals from Stastny and O'Reilly, going 2-4 and looking a lot better then at any point this season. Erik Johnson had a solid game in his return from concussion, with 1 assist +4 1 hit and 1 blocked shot in 19:04 of icetime. With a healthy Johnson and Ryan Wilson close to returning, the Avs are starting to get healthy and look to go on a run. Overall just a fantastic game, and a great streak is over, with the Hawks 24 game unbeaten in regulation streak OVER.

Three Stars:
3. Ryan O'Reilly - O'Reilly had his strongest game since returning to the Avs, scoring a goal and an assist, as well as playing a huge part on the Avs 1st goal. O'Reilly won 11 of 16 faceoffs and 9 shots on goal in 18:24 of icetime
2. PA Parenteau - Parenteau had another big game, with a goal and 2 assists and really a solid overall game. Parenteau has formed great chemistry with Matt Duchene, and he now has 10 goals and 13 assists on the season, 2nd best on the Avs
1. Matt Duchene - What a performance by Duchene, he seems to be getting better by the day and tonight was perhaps his best game of the season. Duchene had a goal and 3 assists, 4 points in total and really had a great game on the PK as well. Duchene was by far the best player on the ice tonight, as he usually has been this season, and really had a big part in ending the Hawks streak

Avalanche Play of the Game - Ryan O'Reilly's goal gets it tonight, just a fabulous shot and a great setup by Duchene and Stastny

Avalanche Misplay of the Game - Probably about one of the only mistakes the Avs made, but Hunwick's turnover leading to the Toews opening goal gets it tonight, just a brutal start and horrible turnover

Game #24 - After ending the Hawks streak the Avs play game #2 of a 3-game home-stand against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night (@8pm)