February’s start wasn’t much better than January.
In the second portion of a home-and-home with the Detroit Red Wings, the Colorado Avalanche returned to Ball Arena for two games before the Olympic break. Hoping to repeat their victorious 5-0 performance from two days ago instead it was the Red Wings who crafted a shutout on the Avalanche on home ice — the first time Colorado has been held off the scoreboard all season. John Gibson made 21 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the year.
The Game
It was evident the game would unfold in a very different manner less than one minute into the game as Detroit got on the board quickly taking advantage of a 2-on-1 and a rusty Devon Toews in the process. Marco Kasper scored his sixth goal of the year for the 1-0 lead. Prior to the end of the period the Avalanche put their 31st ranked power play to the test but came up empty. Colorado held a slight advantage in shots 8-6 to go along with the one-goal deficit.
The second period wasn’t any more successful for the Avalanche. Neither team scored in the frame but Colorado only put up four shots to Detroit’s 12, though Colorado was the only team penalized — twice.
There was a little more purpose in Colorado’s game in the third period and got the shot deficit closer at 24-21 but they still couldn’t find the back of the net. Mackenzie Blackwood kept them in it until he was pulled for the extra attacker with three minutes left. Detroit won all the battles in the dying minutes of the game and finally Lucas Raymond secured the win for Detroit with an empty net tally. A 2-0 final score gave the Red Wings the victory.
Takeaways
Nathan MacKinnon played 26 minutes but it didn’t do the Avalanche much good. He was at least a bit more engaged and fired five shots on net. The team is starting to look exhausted especially when the top players are overworked.
There aren’t words to describe the black hole that is the power play and tonight there weren’t any signs of life. A goal on the man advantage could have certainly made a difference in this contest.
Upcoming
One final game before the three week Olympic break, the San Jose Sharks come to town for a 7 p.m. MT puck drop on Wednesday, February 4th.
Category: General Sports
