After a 4-game home winning streak, the avs headed to Minnesota where they hadn't won a road game in over a month. Things changed quickly, and this game was evident that the avs recent success isn't just at home. Once again, Ryan O'Reilly led the charge and he was all over the ice. After several early penalties and a 5-minute game misconduct for Cody Mcleod, the avs found themselves down to 11 forwards and eventually down 1-0 after a goal in the fanning seconds of the 5-minute PP (which besides that goal, stopped 5 other PPs). Heading into the 2nd down a goal, the avs really picked up the pace in the next period like they have so well recently, and got one back on their own PP. O'Reilly dug the puck out of the corner and fed Duchene at the point, who winded up for a slapshot and fed a streaking O'Reilly at the net for a beauty redirection. That goal sparked the avs, and they continued to put pressure on Backstrom. However, 2 minutes after the goal. Erik Johnson pounced up a costly turnover and Clutterbuck capitalized for a 2-1 lead. Things continued back-and-forth until the end of the 2nd, where with a minute left David Van Der Gulik forced a turnover and Landeskog jammed the puck home for a crucial 2-2 tie. In the 3rd, the avs really had own of their best periods of the season. Varlamov was strong in net, but the offense led the charge with goals by Hejda (beauty O'Reilly feed) and Galiardi to seal it. The O'Reilly Hejduk Landeskog line was the best tonight, but I really thought all 11 (without Mcleod) forwards were all going. On d, Hejda and O'Byrne were really solid combining for +5, while both EJ/O'Brien and Hunwick/Elliot also played well. Kyle Quincey has been a healthy scratch the past 3 games, because Sacco doesn't want to mess with his chemistry right now as even Matt Hunwick is playing great. Semyon Varlamov stopped 20 of 22 shots for his first start in 5 games, and really deserved this win. Overall a great win, 5th straight for this team, and they keep rising in the standings everyday.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Jan Hejda - After starting the season miserably with Erik Johnson, Hejda has been paired with O'Byrne recently and the two have played very well defensively. The teams #1 shutdown pairing and PK pairing, Hejda scored the crucial game winner in the 3rd while being +2 in almost 19 minutes of work
2. Gabriel Landeskog - The young forward continues to play better and better every game, but he was the key in this victory. He produced a late goal in the 2nd to tie things up, and really get the team going in the 3rd
1. Ryan O'Reilly - Continues to be the best player on this team, O'Reilly is leading in all aspects of the game like a captain would. He scored for the 2nd straight game, assisted on the game winner and had 4 shots in a team-leading 22:21 of icetime. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets an A soon on his sweater
Play of the Game - O'Reilly's goal gets it tonight, beautiful give-and-go by him and Duchene set up the first avs goal
Misplay of the Game - Erik Johnson's terrible turnover gets it tonight
Game #38 - The avs play the 2nd of back-to-back games, heading home to face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night (@9pm).
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche NEws
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