Avs' stars drive offensive engine in win

Following an overall uneventful trade deadline earlier in the day, the Colorado Avalanche still had the task of playing an actual meaningful game on the ice as it continues to chase the dream of making the playoffs. At the start of the night, the Avalanche sat just four points out of the final playoff spot, close enough for GM Joe Sakic to decide to mostly stand pat at the deadline and let his team decide its fate.

The quest continued against the Vancouver Canucks, who came into Denver a week after falling apart and giving up five power play goals to the Avs last week in Vancouver.

Tonight’s game had the potential for a similar outcome, as the Canucks were taking penalties early and often with three infractions in the first period. The Avalanche failed to score on the first two opportunities before finally cashing in on the third try, when a scramble in front of the Canucks’ net saw Nathan MacKinnon corral a loose puck and make a perfect saucer pass to Mikko Rantanen, who one-timed it past goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the 1-0 Avalanche lead with just 24 seconds left on the clock.

The Avs took their lead into the second period and continued pouring pressure on despite another scoreless power play. MacKinnon strapped his Wile E. Coyote ACME rocket to his back and jetted past a flat-footed Canucks defense and wrapped himself around the net before centering the puck. It skimmed past Gabe Landeskog and found its way to Rantanen, who put the puck behind Markstrom for the 2-0 lead. Upon further review and subsequent Vancouver challenge, it was determined Landeskog interfered with Markstrom (there was undeniable contact, at least) and the goal was ultimately disallowed.

Several posts hit by the Avalanche and despite being the more dangerous offensive team through two periods, they were unable to muster any more than just the one-goal lead heading into the game’s final frame with the pivotal two points still on the line.

In a reminder of the cruelty of hockey, the Canucks got a clean breakaway and blasted their own shot off the post, which rebounded out to center ice. Unfortunately for Vancouver, that puck went to Landeskog, who handed it off to a flying MacKinnon and No. 29 did the rest, beating a defenseman and Markstrom with a wrist shot to make it 2-0 at 7:52 of the game’s final frame.

The Canucks finally got on the board because Semyon Varlamov isn’t allowed to have nice things and the shutout bid ended at 18:44 when Daniel Sedin (he’s Shooty) potted a sharp angle shot. Naturally, brother Henrik (Passy) assisted on the goal.

Not to have his thunder stolen, MacKinnon was able to notch an empty-net goal on his 19th (!!) shot attempt of the game and scored his second goal. He finished the night with at a nice 69 point total, which is what the Avs had as a team coming in. The win moved them to 71 points on the year and put them just two points behind Calgary, who comes into town on Wednesday, for the final playoff spot.