Avalanche Blown Out 7-2 Against Pittsburgh Penguins
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It wasn’t going to be easy getting back in the win column for the Colorado Avalanche, going up against a hot Pittsburgh Penguins team, but no one would have expected the outcome the way it did. Bad defense, not great goaltending, mistakes everywhere led to a brutal night of hockey as the Avalanche fell 7-2.
Thirty seconds in, Evgeni Malkin is called for tripping, but the Avalanche couldn’t capitalize on the early power play. Just over 10 seconds out of the box, Malkin with a nice spin-o-rama backhand shot beats Scott Wedgewood to make it 1-0 on their first shot of the game. Though it’s Martin Necas who finds Nathan MacKinnon trailing, and he toe-drag riles a shot, beating Artur Silovs and tying the game 1-1.
The Avalanche defense is caught lacking as Erik Karlsson fires a cross-ice pass to Anthony Mantha, as he finds himself behind the defense and scores on the breakaway, making it 2-1. Ville Koivunen is called for cross-checking, sending the Avalanche to the power play, and it does look much better than their first opportunity. Jack Drury is called for interference, sending the Penguins to their first power play, but the Avalanche does a good job killing it off.
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Again, it’s the Avalanche defense making it too easy for the Penguins as Josh Manson gets beat to the puck and Nick Blankenburg drifts way too far over, leaving Malkin all alone, making it 3-1. With that goal, Wedgewood’s night is over as he lets in three goals on five shots, and Mackenzie Blackwood comes in. It’s not a great start for Blackwood as he stops his first shot seen, but Devon Toews is out bodied in front by Elmer Soderblom, and he’s able to score the rebound, 4-1.
Burns late in the period sends a shot from the blueline and is tipped by Mantha, and in making it 4-2 heading into the second period. That goal helped him pass Bobby Orr and now ranks 7th among defensemen in NHL history for goals.
Mantha is called for holding, but the Avalanche’s power play goes nowhere. Set up in the…
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