Despite a competitive first period, the Colorado Avalanche outplayed the Boston Bruins overall. The Avalanche outshot the Bruins in every period, but goaltender Jeremy Swayman kept the Bruins within striking distance throughout the game. Nathan MacKinnon’s two-goal performance ultimately helped the Avalanche win and secure two valuable points.
The action starts early, as Charlie McAvoy sets up John Beecher with a nice slap pass to take the early 1-0 lead with the first shot on goal in the game. The Avalanche ties it up four minutes later, with David Pastrnak turning the puck over and Artturi Lehkonen recovering it. It’s Nathan MacKinnon who finishes the play with a nice backhand shot, 1-1.
Three minutes later, off a Gabriel Landeskog face-off win, Brent Burns feeds Josh Manson, who rifles one a one-timer past Jeremy Swayman and in, 2-1. MacKinnon is called for tripping Fraser Minten, although on replay, it appears Minten tripped on the puck. However, the call stands, and the Avalanche kills off the penalty, ending the period 2-1.
It was all Avalanche in the second period, though Swayman has been on top of his game, keeping the Bruins within a one-goal deficit. The Avalanche power play struggle continues as they get two more opportunities in the period, a Hampus Lindholm cross-checking penalty and a McAvoy tripping penalty, but nothing comes out of those attempts. Finishing the period outshooting the Bruins 17-2, it’s still close with one period remaining.
Four minutes into the period, MacKinnon receives another great pass from Lehkonen, who blasts it right past Swayman to make it 3-1. Swayman was also partially screened by his own teammate, recognizing the shot went past him too late. Wedgewood hasn’t needed to make many saves this game, but he makes his best robbing Beecher, who tried to rifle in a rebound shot, and his second of the match, but Wedgewood flashes his glove and holds the 3-1 lead. Josh Manson is called for interference, but the Avalanche kills the penalty off.
Nikita Zadorov crashes into Wedgwood, which causes a small scrum in front of the net, and him being called for goalie interference. The Avalanche once again fails to capitalize on the power play. The Bruins pull Swayman with two minutes left in the period, and Martin Necas capitalizes on the empty net and scores to make it 4-1, ending the game.
The Colorado Avalanche are back in action on Tuesday, October 21, against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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