Avalanche exact revenge against Canadiens for embarrassing December loss

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

Fresh off a win against the Winnipeg Jets, the Colorado Avalanche were facing an uphill battle to win consecutive home games as the Montreal Canadiens came rolling into town. Their first meeting of the year was a memorable one as the Canadiens blitzkrieged the Avalanche to the tune of an embarrassing 10-1 final score.

The Avalanche came out flying in the first period and were not having any of that. Just 28 seconds into the game, Colorado’s top line did work and Mikko Rantanen’s wrist shot from just inside the blue line had eyes on it and found its way past All-Star goaltender Carey Price to give Colorado a 1-0 lead and send a message the Canadiens were not in for an easy night.

They reinforced that message when a defensive breakout turned into offense for Colorado when Andreas Martinsen took an outlet from Francois Beauchemin and Calvin Pickard and streaked down the left side of the ice and beat Price through the five-hole to make it 2-0 just 2:25 into the game.

Montreal took control of the game shortly after and started bombarding Pickard with shots but the netminder stood tall and turned away all comers. The first period eventually came to a close with Colorado hanging on to its two-goal lead, a rarity for the offensively inept Avalanche this season.

The second period started much as the first ended as Montreal continued pouring on the pressure but Colorado continued to play solid defense and Pickard held his ground.

The Avalanche eventually turned the tide just enough to make things interesting for the sparse Pepsi Center crowd and a Mark Barberio shot from the point was deflected by Rantanen and past Price as Colorado moved to a three-goal lead on the rookie’s second of the night. Barberio’s assist was especially sweet as the Canadiens had just waived him last week. Colorado’s lead held through the end of the second period despite two late power plays by Montreal.

For a team with a three-goal lead, the Avalanche certainly came out with some fire in the third period. Instead of sitting on the lead, they continued to play the game that got them the lead in the first place and in doing so, Montreal ended up taking back-to-back penalties, putting Colorado on the five-on-three that has been such a problem for them recently.

Colorado cashed in on this one, though, when MacKinnon found Rantanen across the ice for a one-timer and the rookie beat Price yet again, giving him his third goal of the night and first career hat trick. Barberio also notched an assist on the play, giving him two points against his former team.

The four-goal lead held up for Colorado and they walked to a shockingly easy win and gave Pickard his second shutout of the season.

THREE STARS

1. Mikko Rantanen
2. Mark Barberio
3. Calvin Pickard

PLAY OF THE GAME

Rantanen’s third goal of the game gave the Finnish rookie his first career hat trick.

TURNING POINT

Rantanen’s second of the night pushed the score to 3-0, giving Colorado the unicorn of a three-goal lead. They would not relinquish it.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado continues their short home stand when the Pittsburgh Penguins come calling Thursday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.