Recap: Avs edge Stars 5-4 in a shootout
· Yahoo Sports
Following a monumental trade deadline which saw the return of Nazem Kadri, the Colorado Avalanche still had a game to play. One of the most important Central Division games was on tap this Friday evening in Dallas against the Stars. Ultimately the Avalanche would win 5-4 in a shootout after numerous last second goals in a comeback affair.
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The Game
After a whirlwind of a day, the evening matchup between the league’s two best teams didn’t disappoint. At first the Avalanche got on the board with a Cale Makar power play goal but the lead didn’t last long as Miro Heiskanen got Dallas their own score on the man advantage.
From there the Stars proceeded to add to their lead. First from Wyatt Johnston who walk around the defense and picked a corner on Mackenzie Blackwood. It would be the Colorado goaltender who misplayed the puck behind the net which allowed the Dallas fourth line in Justin Hryckowian to take advantage and put the Stars up by two.
The first period wasn’t over yet, however, as the Avalanche got one last power play opportunity and Nathan MacKinnon put the puck past Jake Oettinger with one second left on the clock to cut the Dallas lead to 3-2 by the end of the first 20 minutes of play.
That momentum didn’t carry on for Colorado as Dallas struck first in the middle frame. Josh Manson lost a board battle and Jamie Benn was left alone in front to put Dallas up 4-2. That was the end of Blackwood’s night as Scott Wedgewood took the crease in relief.
Colorado still wouldn’t give up, though, and Martin Nečas cut the Stars’ lead in half again. That’s how the second period would conclude with the Stars holding a 4-3 advantage heading into the final frame.
A big moment happened midway through the third period as the Avalanche killed off a Stars 5-on-3. Another missed opportunity for Dallas was when Benn could have sealed the game but missed the cage on an empty net shot. The Avalanche had new life and naturally tied the game with 13 seconds left from none other than Val Nichushkin. With a 4-4 tie the game headed to overtime.
Despite the Avalanche having a few early good looks it was the Stars who held much of the possession in the extra frame. But still, nobody could get a puck past Wedgewood. And a shootout was needed to decide this game.
Colorado went with the hot hand in Nichushkin and it paid off as he used his long reach to poke the puck past Oettinger. Nečas took that inspiration and netted a goal doing the same. Wedgewood stopped both shots he faced and the Avalanche walked away with a 5-4 victory.
Takeaways
Colorado clearly wants to give Blackwood the net but Wedgewood has stepped up time and time again, this time not allowing a single goal, including in the shootout, if relief. He more than earned this win, his 23rd on the season. It might make sense to keep an open mind on a goalie rotation in the playoffs since that’s what’s worked for the Avalanche thus far.
Upcoming
Another big game in a rematch with the Minnesota Wild in a matinee affair at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday, March 8th nationally televised on TNT. Perhaps the return debut of Nazem Kadri on national television?