Avalanche get redemption with shutout against Tampa Bay

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN
Coming off a demoralizing loss to the Washington Capitols, which saw the Colorado Avalanche outshot at 20 to five in the first period alone, the Avalanche came out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Colorado’s fourth game of the season. The first 19 and a half  minutes featured balanced, north-south play between the two teams, with shots coming in at an even five apiece despite the Lightning having the man advantage two times to Colorado’s one.

Nathan MacKinnon chipped the puck to center ice to conclude the second Tampa power play, trying to catch Matt Duchene on the move up center ice. Steven Stamkos gathered the puck in for the Lightning, but Duchene quickly stole it away again just inside the blue line. He carried it up the slot and sent a shot on net. Ben Bishop deftly stopped the goal attempt with a pad save, but Duchene picked up his own rebound for the goal. Nathan MacKinnon brought his team-leading point total to five with the assist. The final 25 seconds ticked away, and the Avalanche headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead and a 10-4 face-off advantage.

The second period saw similar play between the two teams, as well as a similar end with another Duchene goal that put the Avalanche up 2-0. After nearly twenty minutes of aggressive, back-and-fourth play that included another penalty kill by Colorado, Patrick Wiercioch sent a screaming slap shot from the point with 51 seconds left on the clock. Duchene, parked in front of the net, tipped the shot off the staff of his stick, altering its trajectory so that it slipped just under Bishop’s right arm.

Starting the third period with a two-goal lead, the Avalanche struggled to get the offense going, getting penned in the defensive zone for extended periods of time. However, it was Colorado who hit the back of the net about midway through the final period. Joe Colborne dumped the puck off the board, and after hitting the stanchion, the puck dropped right onto Andreas Martinsen’s stick. Bishop skated behind the net anticipating the wrap around, gifting the Norseman an empty net to give Colorado a 3-0 lead.

Colorado continued the scoring when Carl Soderberg carried in the puck from center ice with speed and wristed a laser of a shot on net. The puck clanged off the post and in behind Bishop, upping the Avalanche lead to four goals. Duchene and Nikita Zadorov got the assists, giving Duchene a three-point night.

Jon Cooper pulled his goaltender with just under four minutes left in the game, and the Lighting put the pressure on, generating dangerous offensive chances. Fantastic defensive play by the Avalanche preserved the 4-0 score, however, and the Avalanche now heads into the final game on the road with four points out of a possible six.

THREE STARS
1. Matt Duchene (2g, 1a)
2. Semyon Varlamov (27 shots against, shut out)
3. Patrick Wiercioch (2a)

PLAY OF THE GAME
Duchene’s first goal was born out of intelligent play and elite on-ice vision. It started with MacKinnon’s ability to clear the zone with a controlled chip to center ice and ended with Duchene’s stick-handling skill as he stripped Stamkos and controlled the rebound for the goal.

TURNING POINT
Martinsen’s goal took the wind out of the Lightning’s sails. Although the team had chances during the final minutes of the game, Tampa’s play shifted to desperation and allowed the Avalanche to secure the win.

BY THE NUMBERS
Duchene broke the seal on his scoring, nabbing three points on the night which ties for fourth on the team in points. Wiercioch slipped into sole possession of third in scoring. Varlamov recorded his 21st career shut out.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Avalanche conclude the road trip in Florida, taking on the Panthers on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 5 p.m. MT.