No period of good fortune lasts forever.
The Colorado Avalanche saw their 10-game winning streak and three-game shutout streak come to an end Friday afternoon, as the Minnesota Wild edged them 3-2 in a shootout. The game lived up to its portrayal of a clash between the two hottest teams in the league, with Minnesota entering the contest after six games.
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As Hockey news As noted in the game preview, no team can keep their opponents off the scoresheet indefinitely, and if there was ever a night where Colorado’s defensive wall could finally crack, this game was the likely candidate. Entering the contest, Kirill Kaprizov â fresh off an eight-year extension worth $136 million, the largest contract in franchise history â had already produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 28 games. He was the one to break Colorado’s shutout streak at 221 minutes, 42 seconds, redirecting a central pass from Zeev Buium off his left skate and into the net early in the second period. The previous franchise record, set in November 2001, stood at 192 minutes and 39 seconds. Regardless, the Colorado race was nothing short of historic.
Kaprizov struck again with 1:57 left in the second period, taking Ryan Hartman’s wraparound pass from behind the net past Wedgewood to give the Wild a 2-1 lead.
Sure, the Avalanche fought back valiantly, but it wasn’t enough.
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If there’s anyone still inclined to doubt that Gabe Landeskog is the heart and soul of this Avalanche team or question his drive to win a second Stanley Cup, the video below makes it clear.
Landeskog took a shot from a difficult angle, absorbed a high stick to the face and collided forcefully against the boards in what was undoubtedly a painful sequence. Yet he didn’t linger on the ice or succumb to frustration. Instead, he fought through the discomfort, regained his footing and positioned himself perfectly to finish off Nathan MacKinnon’s rebound for the crucial tying goal with just under nine minutes left in regulation.
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MacKinnon rarely displays uncontrolled emotion, but the way his face lit up the moment Landeskog scored revealed how integral the captain is to the team and the organization.
The Avalanche earned an overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks, thanks to Gavin Brindley, but Colorado remains looking for its first shootout victory of the season. On the positive side, the team showed resilience and determination. Martin NeÄas converted the only goal of the shootout, deftly sliding the puck past Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in a smooth and elegant sequence. Despite the efforts, it was not enough to win the two points.
Nathan MacKinnon became the first NHL player this season to reach 40 points, thanks to a two-point performance in the contest. He now leads the league in goals with 19 and in total points with 41. In assists, he ranks second with 22, behind only Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who has 24 this year.
Could Samuel Girard be on the verge of a healthy scratch? The 27-year-old has only appeared in nine of 24 games this season after recovering from an upper-body injury. After suffering a lower body injury over the summer, he was set to start the regular season, but suffered a setback after just a few games. Known for his speed, puck movement and versatility, Girard has yet to display the form he once had.
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In overtime, Sam Malinski saw ice time, while Girard did not, signaling a potential change in the pecking order. Meanwhile, Ilya Solovyov has received additional work in practice with Avalanche skills coach Mark Popovic, suggesting he could be ready for a game soon, perhaps as soon as tomorrow against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Avalanche (17-1-6) returns to Ball Arena on Saturday to face the Canadiens (13-7-3). Coverage begins at 1 p.m. local time.
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