DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche faced another opponent on a long winning streak and sent them home with none.
Ross Colton and Victor Olofsson scored 79 seconds apart in the second period to give the Avalanche a lead they never relinquished in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday at Ball Arena despite the game becoming tough and physical at times. Martin Nečas and Brock Nelson added insurance markers, and Scott Wedgewood turned aside 28 of 29 shots in another brilliant performance.
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Emil Heineman scored the first goal of the game on a deflection for the Islanders, but that was all they could muster. Ilya Sorokin made some fantastic saves in net, but he suffered the loss after a 24-save performance.
The Avalanche found themselves in an early deficit as the Islanders didn’t strike until 2:05 of the game. Heineman redirected a shot past Wedgewood with his right skate – a play that initially appeared to involve a kicking motion, but upon review, officials confirmed it was a good goal.
Tensions rose a few minutes later when Jack Drury returned to the bench, visibly frustrated after absorbing a nick to his hands that was not called. New York’s good fortune did not last, however. At 4:56, Scott Mayfield hit Nelson in the face with a high stick, sending him to the ice and giving Colorado its first power play of the night. Despite some quality looks, the Avalanche couldn’t capitalize.
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Midway through the period, Gavin Brindley almost found space to test Sorokin, but Matthew Barzal interrupted the attempt with a well-timed poke check, collected the loose puck and raced up the ice for a dangerous chance that Wedgewood turned away with a sharp save.
For much of the first period, the Avalanche found themselves chasing the puck, allowing the Islanders to dictate the pace. After 20 minutes, New York led 1-0 until the intermission. The shots were equal to seven each.
Sam Girard attempted to clear the puck in front of the Avalanche net, but his pass was intercepted, giving the Islanders multiple chances to crash into the crease. Luckily for Colorado, Wedgewood saved them with two big saves, including a brutal stop on Bo Horvat.
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Moments later, Cale Makar connected with Colton out of the race. Colton demolished the left wing with Adam Pelech chasing him and slotted a wrist shot past Ilya Sorokin to tie the game at 1-1. Just 1:29 later, Olofsson redirected a point shot from Sam Malinski to Sorokin, quickly flipping the script and giving Colorado a 2-1 lead.
Parker Kelly was whistled for interference just over eight minutes into the game after colliding with Alexander Romanov, although Romanov knocked Kelly down without the puck seconds earlier. Kelly banged his stick against the glass in frustration, and Makar and Devon Toews both had words for the officials. The explosion changed nothing, but the Avs penalty settled matters.
Shortly after, the Islanders put Colorado on the power play when Ryan Pulock caught Kelly with a high stick. The Avalanche power play couldn’t capitalize again, but they maintained their 2-1 advantage.
With just under three minutes remaining, New York held an 18-15 advantage in shots. Tensions rose shortly after the whistle when Mayfield punched Nečas in the mouth – no penalty on the play, but the Avs bench certainly took notice.
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In the final moments of the second, Makar saved a goal by hooking Matthew Schaefer from behind when he had a clear shot into a wide-open net.
Colorado started the final period with 1:07 left on Makar’s penalty. Horvat fired a shot from the left circle and Wedgewood made a scintillating glove save. The Avs killed the penalty, but Kyle Palmieri still found a way to get his hands on the puck and penetrated the Avs defensive zone, but Wedgewood again made a solid save.
As expected, the third period was intense. Mayfield attempted to intimidate the smaller Brindley, but Brindley responded by slashing him in the face, which officials deemed a high penalty. Then Brent Burns threw Heineman to the ice like a sack of potatoes, causing Anders Lee to fall. Lee wasn’t done as he dropped the gloves with Josh Manson, only to be taken down with a sharp right uppercut seconds later. Both men received five-minute majors and Calum Ritchie was also hit with a brutal two-minute penalty.
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At 8:30 in regulation time, both teams had 23 shots on goal. And even though the Avalanche held a slim lead, it seemed like everything could change at any moment, whether it was thanks to a Colorado goal or a game-tying shot from the Islanders.
After a series of back-and-forths, Makar got his hands on the puck and rushed into the Islanders zone and fired a quick shot at Sorokin, but it was deflected.
The Avalanche had to dig deep in the final minutes, but were ultimately able to break loose against the Islanders. Nečas was whistled for delay of game after sending the puck over the glass, and with about 1:40 left, New York pulled Ilya Sorokin for the extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage. Horvat launched a one-timer from the right circle, but Wedgewood stood tall again with another clutch save.
Miraculously, Colorado survived this prolonged killing spree and from there they slammed the door. Nečas redeemed himself with an empty net, answering the punch with a decisive shot of his own, and Burns fed Nelson for a second empty-net goal to seal a 4-1 Avalanche victory.
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With that, the Streakecutioners struck again, knocking down another team riding a long heater. The Islanders began a four-game winning streak, but despite a determined push, they were unable to defeat Colorado.
Over their last nine games, the Avalanche have faced a challenge of surging opponents. New Jersey entered with an eight-game winning streak, Tampa Bay had won five in a row and Anaheim came in on a seven-game stretch. Now, the Islanders have joined the list of teams whose momentum Colorado has abruptly halted. Now the Avs are on a six-game winning streak.
The Avalanche (13-1-5) will face the visiting New York Rangers (10-8-2) on Thursday at Ball Arena. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time.
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