Avalanche topple monarchy in 4-1 win over Kings

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

This season has been nothing but a struggle for the Colorado Avalanche so far and given a four-game homestand to try to right the ship, the Avalanche struggled their way to a 1-2 record in the first three games entering tonight’s contest against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.

Typically a team that has fought uphill in first periods this season, the Avalanche, led by goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s 12 saves, kept the Kings off the scoreboard. Unfortunately for the Avs, their other all-too-common problem of failing to score appeared yet again and a penalty-filled opening frame finished as it began, in a scoreless tie.

The second period has been a bit of a roller coaster for the Avalanche, frequently seeing some of their greatest success early on but struggling to finish off periods has been an issue. Tonight, the first part certainly held true as Patrick Wiercioch took a won faceoff from Carl Soderberg, circled behind the Kings’ net, and scored a wraparound goal on former Av Peter Budaj to give Colorado the 1-0 lead.

Just 22 seconds would tick off the clock before a point shot from Mikko Rantanen was tipped by Rene Bourque past Budaj to put Colorado ahead 2-0. Bourque, a player who came into training camp on a PTO, registered his fifth goal of the season, second on the Avalanche behind only Matt Duchene.

The roller coaster rode again as the aforementioned struggles by the Avalanche in finishing off periods reared its head again. This time, a late penalty by Tyson Barrie put the Kings on a power play and Dustin Brown cashed in on the opportunity in the final minute of the second period, bringing the score heading into the third to 2-1 in favor of Colorado.

A slow start in the third period had the look of the Kings clawing their way back on the Avalanche but Blake Comeau’s spectacular individual effort to shed a defender and walk across the slot was rewarded as his shot was perfect and beat Budaj to move Colorado ahead 3-1 with under ten minutes remaining in the game.

A Gabriel Landeskog empy-net goal pushed the game to its final score, 4-1, in favor of the Avalanche.

THREE STARS

1. Blake Comeau
2. Semyon Varlamov
3. Patrick Wiercioch

PLAY OF THE GAME

The Rene Bourque goal in the second period is about as impressive a tip-in goal as you will ever see.

TURNING POINT

Blake Comeau’s gorgeous third-period goal gave the Avalanche much-needed breathing room, extending the lead to two goals and paving the way for Colorado to hang on for the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Their four-game homestand now completed, Colorado hits the road for a week, beginning Thursday at the Dallas Stars.