DENVER — The two highest-scoring teams in the NHL put a combined 72 shots on goal. But two of the better netminders so far, Lukas Dostal and Scott Wedgewood, were on their game.
The Avalanche came out on top, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 at Ball Arena thanks to Gabe Landeskog’s first regular-season goal in 1,347 days.
“It was nice to move on,” Landeskog said, almost breathing a sigh of relief. “I think it’s the second-longest goal drought throughout my career, so it was nice to just be done with it.”
Colorado got a goal from Artturi Lehkonen just 28 seconds in, but Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson tied it before the break. In the second, Landeskog scored the go-ahead tally before a power-play goal from Martin Necas doubled the Avs’ lead.
Scott Wedgewood made 35 saves to earn his league-leading 10th win of the season. He’s now ended three of the longest winning streaks of the season against New Jersey (eight games), Tampa Bay (five), and Anaheim (seven).
The Avs improved to 11-1-5, keeping the Ducks from overtaking them for the top seed in the league. Colorado leads the league with 10 regulation wins.
“It’s a little bit of everything. It’s trying to become as well-rounded as we can be,” head coach Jared Bednar said of the team’s ability to defeat surging teams. “We’ve been getting good goaltending, good special teams, the commitment on the defensive side has been good, and we’re getting contributions offensively from different lines and different guys every night.”
Off the opening faceoff, Nathan MacKinnon wasted little time extending his point streak to 10 games. The NHL’s leading points producer set up Lehkonen from behind the net just 28 seconds in. The Avalanche have gotten goals in the first minute on multiple occasions, but this was the fastest one so far.
Lehkonen’s seventh of the season made it 1-0. The Ducks countered with a nice goal from 20-year-old Carlsson, who extended a point streak of his own to 11 games. Carlsson has points in all but two games this year, and is a big part of why Anaheim has surged to the top of the Pacific Division.
The Avs had a 12-6 shot advantage midway through the first, but it was 12-12 at the break. It was still anybody’s game.
Both teams continued to get strong goaltending in the second before the captain got on the board. With the puck at the point, Sam Malinski’s shot attempt ended with a broken stick, and the puck suddenly was on Valeri Nichushkin’s stick in the slot.
Nichushkin put it on goal, and Landeskog cleaned up the rebound, getting his first of the year and 249th of his career.
“I’ve had a decent amount of looks and some bounces that don’t go your way, and that’s the way the game works,” Landeskog said. “Sometimes you get easy ones, and sometimes you really gotta work for them.”
The Avs added a power-play tally in the third thanks to a double deflection. MacKinnon released the shot from the point, and both Lehkonen and Martin Necas got a stick on it. Necas’ 10th of the season doubled the Avs’ lead, and an empty-netter from Parker Kelly sealed the win for Colorado.
What Worked
Wedgewood Gets Beaten Up, But Not Beat
Wedgewood had, to me, his best showing of the season. In a game where many questioned why Bednar opted not to start Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood showed why his game is in a place where he should be playing more for now, until Blackwood gets more practice time under his belt.
He was excellent. There were at least four high-danger chances when the game was either tied or within a goal that Wedgewood stopped. When he got run over in the second period, he took a moment to gather himself before getting back to his feet and continuing to play.
Wedgewood made 17 saves in the third period alone and did not give up a goal.
Wedgewood is 10-1-2 this season, and his save percentage has shot back up to .913 after putting together four strong performances in a row.
“It’s fun to win,” the NHL’s leader in wins said after the game.
What Didn’t
Awaiting Nichushkin News
This might be the first time this season that the Avs have to hold their breath about a potential injury. Nichushkin left the game in the third period and did not return.
Afterwards, Bednar said the 30-year-old Nichushkin suffered a lower-body injury and would be reevaluated on Wednesday. The Avalanche are scheduled for an optional practice at noon on Wednesday. We’ll likely get an update from Bednar on Nichushkin’s status before the players take the ice.
