The game may have been closer than the 6-3 final score indicated but the Colorado Avalanche walked away with their fifth win in a row in a defeat of the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena on Fourth Wing night.
The Game
Marty got the party started with a goal in the first minute of the game. It was the fourth time this season the Avalanche opened the score in such manner and the third time the score was from Martin Nečas.
It was a busy rest of the period despite each team registering only six shots on goal a piece. Artturi Lehkonen added another goal for Colorado on a net front play which chased Buffalo goaltender Alex Lyon in favor of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Buffalo got on the board when Bowen Byram answered back on a goal of his own taking advantage of a Mackenzie Blackwood rebound. Brock Nelson restored the two goal lead quickly but then Jordan Greenway converted on a slap shot. There was even a disallowed Gabe Landeskog goal due to goaltender interference which Jared Bednar unsuccessfully challenged. After counting all the tallies, Colorado held a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes of play.
The second period saw Tage Thompson score on a power play for Buffalo but Gavin Brindley answered with what would be the game winning goal on a nice individual effort as he was moved up to the second line in the absence of Val Nichushkin. And Colorado was up again 4-3 after the second frame.
In the third period the home team pulled away and secured their with with another Martin Nečas score. Gabe Landeskog got his goal back on an empty net tally. Nečas had a chance to go for the hat trick but passed the puck to his captain and settled for a two goal, two assist night instead. Final score 6-3 in Colorado’s favor.
Takeaways
The game was more contested than the final score indicated as Buffalo put up a fight disrupting the Avalanche for most of the night but couldn’t find that fourth goal to equalize the score and the unstoppable Avalanche train just kept moving for their fifth win in a row.
Taylor Makar was called up for his first NHL game at Ball Arena and had a couple looks finishing with three shots on goal in his seven minutes of ice time. He was promptly reassigned after the game so it is unclear what the team’s plan is for an extra forward in the duration of Nichushkin’s absence.
Upcoming
A couple days of rest and then the homestand continues as the Avalanche host the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 16th.
