Game #12 - Colorado Avalanche 3, Dallas Stars 2 (OT)

Paul Stastny celebrates his OT goal

Goals:
COL - Paul Stastny (3) - from Alex Tanguay and Jan Heda (8:22 1ST)
COL - Gabriel Landeskog (4) - from Nathan MacKinnon (18:41 2ND)
DAL - Alex Goligoski (2) - from Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley (3:57 3RD)
DAL - Tyler Seguin (6) - from Rich Peverley and Jamie Benn (16:31 3RD)
COL - Paul Stastny (4) - from Nate Guenin and Ryan Wilson (3:36 OT)
WG - Semyon Varlamov (27 saves on 29 shots) LG - Kari Lehtonen (26 saves on 29 shots)

They may all not be pretty, but the Avs keep on rolling and finding ways to win games with a thrilling 3-2 OT win over the Dallas Stars. What a game by Paul Stastny, he opens the scoring in the 1st and ends it in OT, sending the Avs to an impressive 11-1-0 record. The Avs are now top of the NHL with 22 points, and remain the only team in the NHL undefeated on the road (6-0-0). A huge reason for the early success of the Avs has been the PK, which was 2/2 tonight including a huge kill with 3 minutes left in the 3rd after the Stars had just tied it. The Avs are #1 on the PK in the NHL killing off 92.7%, which is a huge improvement from last season where the Avs finished 20th killing off 80.3%. The Avs came out flying in this game, peppering Kari Lehtonen with shots early and often. Paul Stastny got things started, as he converted a great Alex Tanguay pass to put the Avs up 1-0. The Avs took the 1-0 lead into the intermission, outshooting the Stars 13-4 in the period. The 2nd period was a much more even one, as the Stars started to push back but couldn't beat Semyon Varlamov. Captain Gabriel Landeskog would make it 2-0 late in the 2nd, as a nice pass by MacKinnon set up Landeskog who beat Lehtonen under the pads. The shots were 8-5 Stars in the 2nd, and 18-12 for the Avs going into the 3rd. However, things changed drastically in the 3rd as the Stars finally found their legs and started to control the game (Tyler Seguin in particular). The Stars cut the Avs lead in half early in the 3rd, as a nice rush by Seguin set up a slapshot by Alex Goligoski who blasted one past a screened Varly. The Stars would continue to press in the 3rd, and tied the game with just over 3 minutes left as a miscue at the Avs blueline led to Tyler Seguin beating Varlamov high-glove. On the ensuing faceoff, Landeskog and Alex Chiasson dropped the gloves and Landeskog was assessed an extra 2-minutes for instigating. The Stars peppered the Avs with shots on the PP, but they couldn't beat Semyon Varlamov who made a fabulous glove save on Jamie Benn. The score remained tied 2-2 after the 3rd, as the Avs headed to their 1st OT of the season. Patrick Roy must have said something in the commercial break between the 3rd and OT, cause the Avs came out flying in OT and looked for the winner. Paul Stastny would give the Avs the win with a great individual effort, as he took the puck at centre and rushed into the zone making a nice toe-drag into shot move that beat Lehtonen high-glove. What a performance by the Stastny-line, getting all 3 goals for the Avs including 2 from Stastny. A rough few days for goalie Semyon Varlamov, but he looked very sharp tonight for the Avs. Max Talbot made his Avs debut tonight, I thought he was very strong out there and played a hard game (17:36 ice time, 1 shot, 2 hits). Overall not the prettiest win, but a big 2 points for the NHL-leading Avalanche.

Paul Stastny celebrates with Semyon Varlamov after the Avs 3-2 OT win

Max Talbot made his Avalanche debut tonight

Three Stars:
3. Semyon Varlamov - Varly was not tested much through 2 periods, but really had a strong 3rd period despite allowing 2 goals. Varlamov made 27 saves on 29 shots, improving to 8-1-0 on the season.
2. Tyler Seguin - Seguin was the best Dallas Star on the ice, scoring 1 goal and adding an assist. He was all over the ice tonight, showed great skill and speed.
1. Paul Stastny - Man has Paul Stastny been on quite a roll lately, with 2 goals tonight he now has 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games. Stastny also has the last 2 GWG goals for the Avs.

Play of the Game - Paul Stastny's OT goal gets it tonight, just a great individual effort by Stastny to give the Avs the 3-2 win.

Erik Johnson and Gabriel Landeskog photo-bomb Paul Stastny's interview

Game #13 - The Avalanche have a very special night planned for their next game, as they are honouring longtime Avalanche and current defensive coach Adam Foote by retiring his #52 number. They face the Montreal Canadiens at home on Saturday night (@10PM ET)

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News