Avalanche shrink from the moment as Coyotes howl

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

The Colorado Avalanche have consistently been one of the worst teams in the NHL early in games and tonight’s home tilt against the Arizona Coyotes was more of the same as Jordan Martinook scored just 28 seconds into the game to give Arizona a 1-0 lead on a terrible angle that Avs goaltender Calvin Pickard would love to have back.

Colorado would eventually find its legs in the first period but not the back of the net as Coyotes netminder Louis Domingue stood tall and turned away all 11 Avalanche shots on goal.

The second period was quite a bit different as Colorado began on a power play and an Erik Johnson shot from the point was deflected by Rene Bourque past Domingue to tie the game at 1-1 just 38 seconds into the period.

Matt Duchene’s interception of a breakout pass and subsequent find of Nathan MacKinnon led to MacKinnon wristing a rocket past Domingue to make it 2-1 and give the Avalanche their first multi-goal game since their October 29th game in Arizona.

The Avalanche have been quite the slump busters this year, providing several notable opposing players their first goals of the season. This continued as Arizona defenseman Anthony DeAngelo scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game, tying the game at 2 apiece with just under four minutes remaining in the second period.

Colorado’s slump busting wasn’t done, however, as Max Domi finally tallied his first of the season on a shot that deflected awkwardly off Erik Johnson and past Pickard, who never saw the puck, and gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

The lead wouldn’t last, however, as Arizona scored just 11 seconds in on a two-on-one. Martinook registered his second of the night, this one a power play goal, and gave Arizona a two-goal cushion., which would hold up to the end of the game.

THREE STARS

1. Jordan Martinook
2. Max Domi
3. Anthony DeAngelo

PLAY OF THE GAME

Domi’s goal wasn’t very pretty but Duchene’s clearing attempt was chest-high and there was a great play made to keep the puck in the zone and it resulted in the game-winning goal.

TURNING POINT

Martinook’s second goal just 11 seconds into the final frame was backbreaking and annihilated the spirit of the Avalanche.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado continues its four-game home stand on Friday night as they host the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.