One final game fore a three-day holiday break concluded at Ball Arena with the Colorado Avalanche facing their budding rival in the Utah Mammoth. As many of their matchups have gone over the last few years,
this was a hard-fought contest with the home team emerging victorious in the 1-0 shutout win.
Scott Wedgewood was excellent making 32 saves in his second shutout of the season but the true hero was Samuel Girard who scored the only goal of the game unassisted on a steal and gorgeous backhand finish to give the Colorado Avalanche their 27th win prior to the holiday break.
The Game
It began as a spirited affair with chances for both teams. Each squad also had the chance to show off their power play in the first period. Colorado looks like they are making an effort to move more on the man advantage but are still dancing around the perimeter. Utah got a couple good looks on theirs but Scott Wedgewood stood tall. The best chance in the opening frame was perhaps Martin Nečas on a breakaway who hit the crossbar behind Vitek Vanecek but the period ended in a scoreless tie.
In the second period the Avalanche finally broke through and from the unlikeliest hero as Sam Girard crafted a dandy steal and breakaway with a backhand finish for his second goal of the season to put Colorado up by one.
Later on in the period there was a lengthy review after it appeared Utah’s Clayton Keller scored on a second effort shot but the puck was in Wedgewood’s glove as he outstretched his arm at the goal line. The puck was probably just barely in the net but with no definitive proof the call on the ice wasn’t overturned, thus no goal. The second period ended with Colorado still holding a one-goal lead.
The Avalanche uncharacteristically held on just to survive in the third period and were outshot 12-4 in the process. Utah possessed the puck for an entire two minutes with the extra attacker but couldn’t get the equalizer. Colorado couldn’t find the back of the net again either but Girard’s goal was enough to earn the 1-0 win.
Takeaways
Subject of endless trade rumors, Sam Girard proved his value tonight. The left handed defenseman has been quietly putting up points since his return to action and has scored six points in his last six games. In fact, at just four points behind, Girard is coming up on passing fellow defenseman Devon Toews in production. If we go by the ever-popular pace Girard is already there at 31 points over a full season to Toews’ 27.
Utah required the use of an Emergency Backup Goaltender as Karel Vejmelka was unable to dress for this contest. Utah native Colten McIntyre who is just 21-years-old was chosen for the honor and signed a try-out agreement prior to the game so he could serve as the backup.
Upcoming
A Merry Christmas and then a showdown in Vegas at 8 p.m. MT on Saturday, December 27th.
