Avalanche collapse in third period in loss to Oilers

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

With late game issues costing the Colorado Avalanche their last three games, they decided to try something different by jumping out to a dominant first period tonight against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. The plan initially worked out as Colorado’s top line got them on the board early when Nathan MacKinnon took a puck in stride just as Sven Andrighetto was getting onsides and carried it into the offensive zone and found Mikko Rantanen, whose one-time blast easily beat goaltender Cam Talbot for the 1-0 lead just 3:20 into the game.

The Avalanche continued their pressure throughout the lineup and much-maligned Joe Colborne played a solid two-man game with J.T. Compher high in the offensive zone before Colborne found Compher in open space and he beat Talbot blocker-side to give the Avalanche a two-goal lead halfway through the opening frame.

After a failed power play, the Avs fell asleep near the end of the period and a classic goal against ensued when a failed clearing attempt turned into a bouncing puck that Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera put past a sliding and confused Jeremy Smith to put the Oilers behind just one goal with 30 seconds left in the period. Despite some late Avalanche pressure, the score held into the first intermission.

The lead evaporated immediately after puck drop in the second period as Milan Lucic had the easiest goal of his life with a simple tap-in just 26 seconds in and just like that a great early Avalanche performance was completely wasted.

Instead of folding like they normally do, the Avalanche picked themselves off the mat and pushed back. Their top line was at it again as Andrighetto to MacKinnon to Rantanen to twine unfolded in an eerily similar fashion with Rantanen one-timing a shot past Talbot and Colorado regained the lead, 3-2.

The Avalanche weren’t done building there as the unlikely hero of the day, Joe Colborne, notched his second great assist of the game as he stole the puck behind the Oilers net and found Rene Bourque, who one-timed it into the net for Colorado’s fourth one-time goal of the game, giving them a two-goal lead heading into the third period, where Colorado has struggled mightily the last three games.

Per usual, it didn’t take long for the Avs to give up a third-period goal, this one coming off a shot Smith had initially stopped but trickled behind him. Nobody saw it except Zack Kassian, who tapped in the puck while John Mitchell helplessly stood by, oblivious to the puck’s location. Just 2:44 into the third and the game was 4-3.

Just moments later, Jordan Eberle took a pass from Sekera off a won offensive zone faceoff and beat Smith high on the glove side and Colorado’s 4-2 lead was gone in under five minutes.

The bleeding didn’t stop there as Drake Caggiula scored on a move that left Smith swimming helplessly on his stomach with just over two minutes remaining. The Oilers added two more goals, the first being sort of an empty-net as Smith was skating off the ice and tried to get back to stop it but failed and the second a for sure empty-net goal and what was a 4-2 game in Colorado’s favor at the start of the ended in a 7-4 defeat.

THREE STARS

1. Andrej Sekera
2. Mikko Rantanen
3. Drake Caggiula

PLAY OF THE GAME

With many to pick from, Bourque’s goal in the second half of the second period was great because it was started by Colborne, who has struggled to stay in the lineup all season. Coming off another scratch Tuesday night, his second assist of the night was a great defensive play turned into instant offense, giving Colorado a two-goal lead after two periods.

TURNING POINT

Caggiula’s goal sealed it for the Oilers after the game had been tied at 4-4 and saw each team get a power play opportunity. The moment Caggiula scored, you knew it was done for the Avalanche.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado and Edmonton run it back Saturday night in Canada as the Avalanche head to the Oilers’ new home.