Recap: Unlucky bounces cost Avalanche three-game winning streak

5 days ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images


A good game overall was undone by deflections and an offense that struggled at times to put plays together. Nathan MacKinnon scored his 11th goal of the season for the Colorado Avalanche, but unfortunately, that’s all they had to show for on Thursday night at Ball Arena.
Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist and the Utah Hockey Club beat the Avs 4-1 to snap a three-game winning streak for the home team. Vladislav Kolyachonok and Kevin Stenlund also posted goals for UHC, as they remain unbeaten in their last four games. Karel Vejmelka stopped 22 of 23 shots.
Scott Wedgewood had 19 saves in his first home start with Colorado since being acquired in a trade with Nashville in exchange for Justus Annunen on November 30. The 32-year-old from Brampton, Canada, has been outstanding for the Avalanche thus far. He was still solid in this game but was undone by a flimsy goal in the opening period, followed by blitzkrieg in the second that cemented Utah’s dominance.
First Period
We start with the cheap goal. Guenther put Utah on the board first at 8:26 of the first period when his centering pass bounced off Artturi Lehkonen’s skate and past Wedgewood for an own goal.
Colorado outplayed their counterparts in the first, ending the frame with a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal. But they were trailing where it mattered the most — the scoreboard. Vejmelka made some great saves to keep it a 1-0 game.
Second Period
In the second period, Utah stepped on the gas, scoring two goals in roughly two minutes of action. Vladislav Kolyachonok’s wrist shot deflected off defenseman Calvin de Haan as the puck snuck by Wedgewood’s leg to give Utah a two-goal advantage.
Then about 90 seconds later, Givani Smith — whom the Avs acquired in the deal that brought goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado — was sent to the sin bin for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Avs’ penalty kill, which has been pedestrian at best this season, continued to disappoint when Guenther needed only nine seconds to blast a slapper by Wedgewood to make it 3-0.
Third Period
Colorado finally scored with 4:26 left in regulation, when MacKinnon fired home a wrister, but Utah responded with an empty-net goal from Kevin Stenlund to close the deal.
Colorado dropped to 17-13-0 with the loss and Utah dished out revenge for the Avs’ dominant 5-1 road victory two months ago.

Takeaways
MacKinnon’s goal was his 946th career point, which tied him with Michel Goulet for third in franchise history, which is very cool. Congratulations to Mack.
This game honestly wasn’t bad. Colorado had a few unlucky bounces that worked against them and the offense put together some great plays at times, but Vejmelka was outstanding in net. And that’s okay. You will have games where the other team’s goalie is just simply on another level that night, and that was the case for Vejmelka. From my perspective, the offense also let off the gas at times when they could put forth the extra initiative to get after loose pucks and prevent costly turnovers. They still have work to do, but it’s much better when there’s a team that isn’t worried about their goalie allowing every shot in the net.
Saturday should be the highly-anticipated Colorado debut for Mackenzie Blackwood and we’ll see what the man is capable of in a blue sweater.
Upcoming
The Avalanche end their two-game homestand against the Nashville Predators on Saturday at 7 p.m. Also, Justus Annunen returns to Ball Arena for the first time since being traded. ...

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