Avalanche rebound from embarrassment behind stellar Varlamov performance

 

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

Following last night’s embarrassing debacle in Montreal, the Colorado Avalanche had to take their act to Toronto for a back-to-back against the Maple Leafs, who also played last night. What we got early on was a depressing response from the Avalanche, whose 10-1 loss the night before was supposed to spark an inspired first period.

Instead, the Maple Leafs set up shop in the Avalanche zone, camped out for a while, made some delicious smores, sang Matchbox Twenty songs around the fire and generally did whatever they want. Everything except score, that is, thanks to an outstanding individual effort from Semyon Varlamov, who kept the score 0-0 en route to a 21-save first period.

As happens frequently in a sport dominated by cruel and unusual gods, the dominant play by Toronto was undone with one bad decision, a Tyler Bozak trip to end a Maple Leafs power play that eventually put Colorado on a power play.

They would capitalize, of course, because again, cruel and unusual deities, as a Jarome Iginla shot rebounded off Antoine Bibeau, was corralled by Matt Duchene, who made a beautiful no-look backhand pass to Mikko Rantanen. The rookie had no trouble “Finnishing” the goal as he potted the puck into the empty net, stunning the once-raucous Toronto crowd and putting Colorado ahead after the first period.

The second period was much more evenly played with Colorado actually outshooting Toronto 15-10 and generally looking like a real, actual NHL team for the first time since they beat the Boston Bruins last week. The score didn’t change, however, as both goaltenders wanted to keep this one interesting heading into the third period.

Colorado’s third period was an adventure of sorts, beginning with a penalty kill just seconds in. They successfully killed the penalty, drew one of their own, and it was time for some Nathan MacKinnon magic tricks. MacKinnon carried the puck through the neutral zone, took a high-stick to the mouth, and then immediately deked multiple Leafs defenders and beat Bibeau with a wrist shot, making it 2-0 and earning a four-minute power play.

The Avs didn’t score on the double-minor but they wiped four minutes off the clock and with their shiny new two-goal lead that wasn’t nothing. A series of Colorado penalties gave Toronto a five-on-three power play and a Jake Gardiner shot finally broke down the Varlamov wall to make it 2-1.

Blake Comeau scored into an empty-net about 160 feet away to make it 3-1 with just over one minute to play and the Avs escaped with two points.

THREE STARS

1. Semyon Varlamov
2. Nathan MacKinnon
3. Jake Gardiner

PLAY OF THE GAME

Did you read my description of MacKinnon’s goal? When his career is over it will be on his highlight reel.

TURNING POINT

Patrick Wiercioch’s Delay of Game penalty late in the third period started the silly penalty parade that led to Gardiner’s goal and an insanely busy final five minutes for Varlamov.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Following the completion of their road trip, the Avalanche have two days off and resume their busy December schedule by taking on the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night at Pepsi Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time.