The Colorado Avalanche dominated the game against the Calgary Flames on Monday night but ended up losing 3-2 in the shootout.
The Avs seemed in cruise control throughout the entire game until the final 10 minutes or so. It was at the point where the Flames’ fourth line drove the dagger home to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In overtime, the Brock Nelson-Martin Necas combination came close to ending the game, twice. However, they were unlucky as they hit the post and had one puck sit on the goal line as time expired in the extra frame.
The game went into overtime where one shot was all that Calgary needed to pull off the comeback and grab the two points. Frankly speaking, the Flames needed the two points much more than the Avalanche did.
Yes, the Flames also deserve a ton of credit for coming back the way they did. But it has to be a concerning situation for the Avs. Colorado lost a 2-1 game on Saturday night against the Blues and now a 3-2 shootout decision against the Flames.
While the sky isn’t about to fall, it seems that the back-to-back losses should be a wake-up call. All too often, excellent hockey clubs fall prey to complacency. When things are going well, such as they have been for the Avalanche, teams tend to go on autopilot. When that happens, a hungry team walks in and sends a message.
There’s nothing wrong with the Colorado Avalanche. However, the two straight losses are a sign that the team needs to pay more attention. Otherwise, it could be a quick first-round exit this upcoming playoff season.
MacKinnon extends point streak to 25 in Colorado Avalanche loss
Nathan MacKinnon continues his torrid pace this season, notching a point in his 25th straight game this season. MacKinnon assisted on Cale Makar’s 28th goal of the season in the first period.
The highlight-reel goal from Makar put the Avs up 1-0. Makar made a nifty move to undress Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, then beat Dan Vladar with a wicked shot.
Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Avs would get from their top scorers. Then, it was the fourth line that chipped in with Logan O’Connor scoring his 10th of the season. The goal was a timely one as it put the Avs up 2-0 midway through the second period.
All told, Nathan MacKinnon continues to cement his case as this season’s Hart Trophy winner. He’s one point up on Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov with 100 points. If MacKinnon can have a couple of big games down the stretch, he could well break the 120-point mark before the end of the season.
