(SportsNetwork.com) – It’s still early, but the Colorado Avalanche are hoping
they aren’t looking back at recent missed points later in the season.
The Avalanche take aim at a much-needed victory on Sunday night as they begin
a three-game homestand with a matchup against the Anaheim Ducks.
Colorado has won just three of its first 12 games, but does have a point in
six straight contests. The Avalanche are 2-0-4 over that span following a 3-2
shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues last night.
That defeat did keep the Avalanche winless in five games this season that have
gone past regulation. They have dropped three games in overtime as well as a
pair of shootouts.
Ryan O’Reilly and Nathan MacKinnon both had power-play goals and an assist
versus the Blues, while defenseman Erik Johnson added two assists and Semyon
Varlamov made 27 saves.
“We’re 0-for-5 in overtime and the shootout,” Avs head coach Patrick Roy said.
“We’re going to have to put some in if we’re going to win these games.”
In addition to scoring a pair of goals on the man advantage, Colorado has
killed off 20 straight opponent power plays.
The Ducks were able to secure a win despite going beyond 60 minutes, topping
the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime on Friday.
Corey Perry netted his NHL-leading 10th goal of the season, a second-period
tally, and assisted on Nate Thompson’s winner 2:30 into the bonus frame.
Perry took a drop pass from defenseman Cam Fowler and hammered a shot towards
net from the left circle that Thompson deflected.
“Whenever you score a goal, a big goal, it’s great. I was just going to the
net and got my stick on it,” Thompson said.
Frederik Andersen made 21 saves as the Ducks improved to 2-1-0 on a four-game
road trip.
Anaheim had winger Patrick Maroon in the lineup for the first time in nine
games. He had been out with a knee injury suffered on Oct. 13.
The Ducks have won four of their past six versus the Avalanche — two of those
in overtime — and have picked up a victory in eight of their last 11 in
Colorado.
