Hutchinson blanks Colorado despite avalanche of shots

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

With almost an entire week between games after a grueling road trip against top competition, the Colorado Avalanche came out unsurprisingly flat against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. The Jets dominated early on but the Avalanche found their legs as the period carried on and what once was a large shot disparity finished at just 10-6 in favor of the Jets as the first intermission ended in a 0-0 tie.

The second period was quite a bit different in every way as the Avalanche tilted the ice in the other direction and evened up the shot disparity throughout the period and generally being the other team but hockey is a funny sport.

One mental lapse by Erik Johnson, who slacked off Shawn Matthias in the slot, and Joel Armia made the Avalanche pay with a beautiful cross-ice pass that Matthias one-timed past Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov at the 8:29 mark of the second period to put the Jets ahead 1-0. Despite consistent pressure from the Avs, the game remained 1-0 entering the third period.

The Avalanche threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Jets in the third period, racking up 20 shots on goal and dominating the possession about as thoroughly as possible and it still wasn’t enough as Michael Hutchinson went into super hero mode to the tune of a 37-save shutout and dropped the Avalanche to 3-3-0 on the season.

THREE STARS

1. Michael Hutchinson
2. Shawn Matthias
3. Joel Armia

PLAY OF THE GAME/TURNING POINT

In a 1-0 game, this one is pretty easy. The gorgeous pass by Armia to take advantage of a tired Avalanche line caught on the ice and former Av Matthias didn’t waste the effort as his shot beat Varlamov cleanly.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

For some inexplicable reason, the Avalanche follow their ridiculous week long lay off with a back-to-back so they will be in Arizona tomorrow night to take on the Coyotes. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST.