In the second clash of storms of the season, the Colorado Avalanche fell 3-1 on the road to the Carolina Hurricanes. After staring down gale force wins and making 57 saves on 60 shots in their first matchup, goaltender Semyon Varlamov was unable to repeat his brilliance in a game the Avalanche needed to win in order to keep pace in the tightly contested race for the second wild card spot in the western conference.
It was an even game in every way entering the third period as the teams were tied 1-1 on the scoreboard and 23-23 in shots on goal. Brock McGinn’s second goal of the night just 35 seconds in changed all that and ultimately proved to be the game-winner. It was eerily similar to his first goal of the night as he took a pass from Elias Lindholm, who had won the puck behind the Avalanche net, and one-timed the puck past Varlamov.
Carolina added to its lead with just under seven minutes remaining when Jeff Skinner was somehow all by himself on the side of the Avalanche net and was able to bang home a rebound off a Lee Stempniak shot to move ahead 3-1 and essentially puck the game out of reach in a Carolina-dominated third period.
The game had been an energetic contest up to that point as the Avalanche and Hurricanes traded quality scoring chances, highlight reel saves, and silly penalties alike. The second period saw no goals scored but not for lack of trying. The Avalanche were given a four-minute power play after Teuvo Teravainen high-sticked J.T. Compher in the face but were unable to cash in despite a handful of scoring opportunities thanks to Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward coming up large. The failed power play would prove a key to the game as Colorado failed to capitalize on its multitude of chances.
A feisty first period was full of the teams flying up and down the ice before the game found itself in a four-on-four situation, an area the Avalanche have badly struggled this season. That wasn’t the case, at least initially, when Compher took a hit behind the Hurricanes net and moved the puck to linemate Mikko Rantanen, who gathered the puck and found Tyson Barrie in front and he blasted one past Ward, giving Colorado the 1-0 lead.
The lead lasted all of 18 seconds as Lindholm beat Barrie behind the Avalanche net after an errant pass from Patrik Nemeth and he hit McGinn with a pass in front, who deposited the puck neatly behind Varlamov to tie the game.
The loss saw Colorado drop to four points behind the Minnesota Wild, who beat the Chicago Blackhawks at home tonight, and their road record fell to 10-14-3. One of the main culprits of their road struggles continues to be their inept power play away from the Pepsi Center, which is now dead last in the NHL (versus their home PP, which is ranked 4th).
The offensive struggles without star forward Nathan MacKinnon continue as they have now scored just five goals in their last four games. They return to action tomorrow night against the Buffalo Sabres.
