Avalanche winning streak halted in loss to Penguins

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

Looking for a season-high third consecutive win, the Colorado Avalanche welcomed in the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Looking to duplicate the fast start that paced them in their most recent victory over the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado’s top line came out firing on the game’s first shift and Nathan MacKinnon rang one off the post.

Mikko Rantanen nearly put the Avalanche up 1-0 when Gabe Landeskog’s shot rebounded to MacKinnon, who passed it to Rantanen for the one-timer but the Finnish rookie failed to hit the open net and the game remained scoreless.

A Patrick Wiercioch turnover in the neutral zone created a two-on-one for the Penguins and Matt Cullen found Phil Kessel for the game’s first goal as Kessel just barely snuck one between Calvin Pickard’s pads. The 1-0 lead held up for Pittsburgh throughout the remainder of the period despite Colorado outshooting them, 13-11.

The second period featured much of the same high-intensity hockey as the first and the teams traded chances throughout. The difference came when the referees noticed wunderkind and untouchable Sidney Crosby was on the ice and Zadorov dared to make contact with him while Crosby had the puck and thus was sent to serve time in the sin bin.

Naturally, the Penguins cashed in just seconds after their ill-deserved power play began when Patric Hornqvist knocked one past Pickard on the short side, pushing Pittsburgh ahead 2-0 and teaching the Avalanche the invaluable lesson that Crosby is not to be trifled with in any manner.

Hornqvist wasn’t finished in the period as he took a rebound off a Justin Schultz shot and potted a backhand past Pickard to make it 3-0 with all three goals surely ones Pickard would love to have back.

Facing a three-goal deficit in the third period, there wasn’t a ton of confidence in Colorado’s play as they were fairly resigned to the inevitable outcome. A couple of scoring chances, however, saw them with a string of late power plays and the Avalanche cashed in on one as Landeskog banked one in off Matt Murray to make it 3-1. Landeskog registered eight shots on goal tonight.

Chris Kunitz ended any hopes of a miraculous comeback with an empty-net goal with under a minute remaining in the game. In his quest for 1,000 career points, Crosby was held scoreless.

THREE STARS

1. Patric Hornqvist
2. Matt Murray
3. Phil Kessel

PLAY OF THE GAME

The game’s first goal was a great example of the kind of self-inflicted wounds the Avalanche are known for and have been unable to overcome this season. It’s also a textbook example by the Penguins of how to finish a two-on-one.

TURNING POINT

Hornqvist’s second goal with under a minute remaining in the second period provided a three-goal deficit and even just two goals have been flat out daunting for the Avalanche this year. Three goals? Not happening.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado takes to the road after this for a lengthy trip to the east coast, beginning with the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. MT.