ANAHEIM The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 at Honda Center on Sunday, thanks to four goals in a row in the third period and two assists from Charlie Coyle.
“It feels good to end the season on a winning note,” Coyle stated. “Everyone feels a little better about themselves and the team as a whole, and we had a lot of commitment from these guys.”
Wyatt Aamodt scored his first NHL goal in his second game, Jack Drury had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood made 18 stops in the Avalanche’s (49-29-4) regular-season finale. The Avalanche will finish third in the Central Division.
The Avalanche did not use their top seven point scorers against the Ducks in order to prepare for their first-round matchup against the Dallas Stars.
Coach Jared Bednar of Colorado stated, “We’ll be ready.” “We have a full week to prepare for Dallas here. They’ve been fierce competitors for us over the past few years, and we know they’re a very good club.”
The Ducks (35-37-8), who have dropped two straight games, lost despite goals from Mason McTavish and Sam Colangelo and 20 saves from Lukas Dostal.
According to McTavish, “We gave them too many odd-man rushes, especially being up.” “We need to close out the game more effectively.”
At 10:05 in the third session, Aamodt trimmed the score to 2-1. In a rush, he received a feed from Martin Necas behind his back and scored with a right-circle shot that sailed past Dostal after bouncing off Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov’s skate.
Regarding Aamodt, Bednar remarked, “I love seeing guys in their first game come up and play, especially when they come up and play really well like that.”
For Anaheim’s second third-period delay of game penalty, Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson threw the puck over the glass. At 14:34, Drury deflected Sam Malinski’s high slot shot past Dostal to knot the score at 2-2.
At 17:51, Coyle scored from the right circle for the Avalanche after Jimmy Vesey had fed him on a rush.
McTavish described the culture there as “next man up.” “We knew from the beginning that it would be a difficult game, and it is evident that they still possess a great deal of skill.”
In the 4-2 final, Erik Johnson scored an empty-net goal with 48 seconds remaining.
“It took until late, but we got it done, and that’s obviously a nice way to finish the year,” Wedgewood commented.
In the first period, McTavish gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 18:52. In the neutral zone, he grabbed the puck, skated into the left circle, and scored with a wrist shot into the net’s far side.
At 7:35 of the second period, the Ducks extended their advantage to 2-0 with a goal one second after the end of their first power play. Alex Killorn struck Colangelo with a touch pass for a one-timer from the inside edge of the right circle after Frank Vatrano delivered the puck to him from above the circle.
McTavish remarked of Anaheim’s season, “I feel like we’ve been way more competitive, and, obviously, the standings show that.” “But we men are fiercely competitive. We want things to happen immediately, and if you take a step back and see it from a distance, I believe there is undoubtedly some progress.”
NOTES: Defensemen Cale Makar (rest) and Devon Toews (rest) were not present for the Avalanche’s game, nor were forwards Nathan MacKinnon (undisclosed), Artturi Lehkonen (lower body), Jonathan Drouin (lower body), Valeri Nichushkin (lower body), and Ross Colton (upper body). Everyone should be prepared for the postseason. Bednar became the 55th NHL coach to accomplish the milestone when he coached his 700th NHL game (390-246-64). … The longest point streak by a Colorado goaltender this season, Wedgewood’s, now stands at nine games (8-0-1). Despite trailing after the first period, the Avalanche lead the NHL with 15 victories. Ian Moore, a defenseman for Anaheim, made his NHL debut with 15:31 of ice time and three shots on goal. The Avalanche have had nine players make their NHL debuts this season, the most of any team. Moore is the first player to make his NHL debut for the Ducks this season.
