Avs beat Coyotes in slug-fest, move into Wild Card spot

The Colorado Avalanche won on the scoreboard and won the fights. The latter was much more important in these days of March, but acting like the big, bad bully probably didn’t feel so bad either.

In a game that featured lots of old-time hockey, including the second fight this season between Nathan MacKinnon and a member of the Arizona Coyotes, the Avs won 5-2 in front of a loud matinee crowd at the Pepsi Center.

Things got really rough in the third period, when Avs forward Sven Andrighetto put a two-hand shove/punch to the face of Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The NHL department of player safety may be taking a hard look at that in the day ahead, though Andrighetto was slashed a couple of times before that and goaded somewhat by OEL.

The Avs scored on their first three shots of the game against Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper, but led only 3-2 midway into the third period, when Tyson Jost and Mikko Rantanen scored goals to ease the pressure on backup goalie Semyon Varlamov.

Why was Varlamov in the game? Because Jonathan Bernier was injured again. At press time, there was no specificity to his injury, but it might be another concussion protocol, as he took a slap shot right off the face mask in the second period.

The Avs moved back into a wild card spot in the Western Conference with the win, one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s gonna be a fight to the finish,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “This is, essentially, our playoffs right now.”

Bednar said Bernier was indeed hurt from the slap shot to the mask in the second period, from Ekman-Larsson. Other than saying Bernier has a “stiff neck”, there was no other information on his condition moving forward. If it’s another concussion, however, it will be a setback for the Avs, as Varlamov has just been too mediocre of late to inspire much confidence.

The Avs have actually increased their position in the standings since losing Erik Johnson, which nobody would have predicted.

“We’ve got too many good players,” said MacKinnon, who posted two assists. “We’re not gonna quit.’

But now come two very tough Central Division road games, in Minnesota and St. Louis. The Avs will play a Wild team that has taken it on the chin the last two meetings and will be hungry for revenge. Then, they’ll play at a place they never seem to be even competitive anymore, the Scottrade Center.

Nobody said this would be easy.

“We realize where we are and what opportunity we have,” captain Gabe Landeskog said. “It’s fun seeing our name in the second wild card spot and just kind of fuels our fire. It’s a big road trip for us, there’s no doubt. But just like it’s been the last 10 games or so, every game is playoff hockey for us.”

Asked if he’s worried the NHL might take a look at the punch/shove by Andrighetto to Ekman-Larsson’s head, Bednar was succinct:

“No, not at all,” he said.