|  Wys³any: 2019-02-26 04:55:50 Temat postu: theres a lot more grinding and a lot more
The Colorado Avalanche pulled off a comeback victory in their first playoff game since 2010 and the Central Division champions hope to take a 2-0 series lead when they host the Minnesota Wild in Saturdays Game 2 from the Pepsi Center. Catch the game on TSN starting at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. Paul Stastny was the hero for the Avalanche in Thursdays opener, scoring with 13.4 seconds left in the third period to knot the score at 4-4 and then tallying the game-winner at 7:27 of overtime. The 5-4 decision was the first victory in the postseason for Colorado since taking Game 3 of a first-round series against San Jose on April 18, 2010. The Avs lost that set in six games and havent won a postseason series since beating Minnesota in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs. Meanwhile, Minnesota, which lost to Chicago in the opening round last spring, hasnt won a playoff series since beating Vancouver in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals. Colorado claimed its first division title since 2003 this season and is the second seed in the West. After Thursdays win, the Avalanche are now 5-0-1 against the Wild since the start of the 2013-14 campaign. The comeback triumph in Game 1 also marked Patrick Roys first playoff win as an NHL head coach. Of course, the legendary goaltender won four Stanley Cup titles in his playing days, including two with Colorado in 1996 and 2001. With his team trailing 4-3 late in regulation, Roy made a bold decision to pull goaltender Semyon Varlamov in favor of the extra attacker with 3:01 remaining in the third. The early pull paid off with Stastnys tying goal, but not before Avs defenseman Erik Johnson made a terrific hustle play to prevent an empty-net score that could have clinched the win for Minnesota. The Wild had a chance to extend their lead to two goals with Varlamov on the bench. Minnesota forward Erik Haula cleared the puck the length of the ice and the disc was headed for the net before Johnson hustled down and swept it away mere inches from the goal line. His play paid off a bit later as the Avalanche peppered Wild goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov with shots late in regulation and finally got one through. Holding the puck behind the net, Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon sent a pass to the left point where Johnson blasted a shot with Stastny putting home the rebound under the crossbar from the right side to send the game to overtime. "Its just like every goal, theres four or five guys that make it happen," said Stastny. "There was so much spin on that shot I didnt even see it go in." On Stastnys OT winner, Colorados Tyson Barrie kept the puck in at the left point and was able to elude Minnesota forward Jason Pominville before pushing the puck to the low left side. From there, MacKinnon picked up the puck and skated around the right side where his pass was one-timed in by Stastny for the win. "We are confident in ourselves and we always play to win," said Stastny. "Its just a bit different pace out there, theres a lot more grinding and a lot more tedious. We have to get our rest and get ready for Saturday." Jamie McGinn and Ryan OReilly each posted a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who are in the playoffs after a three-season absence. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog also had a goal in his postseason debut. Varlamov made 29 saves for Colorado to improve his career postseason record to 11-9. The Avs played Game 1 without star forward Matt Duchene (knee) and defenseman John Mitchell (concussion). Both players will miss Game 2 as well. Charlie Coyle, Ryan Suter, Kyle Brodziak and Haula scored for the Wild, who are back in the playoffs for a second straight season after missing out four straight years. Zach Parise had two assists and Bryzgalov stopped 26 shots for Minnesota, which claimed the top wild card spot in the Western Conference. "I think despite the outcome of the game we did a lot of good things out there tonight," said Parise. "We made some mistakes in the third that resulted in the puck being in our net, and it cost us." The Wild hope to pick up a win Saturday so it can head back to St. Paul with the series tied 1-1. Minnesota is hosting Games 3 and 4, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday at Xcel Energy Center. This is the third all-time playoff meeting between the clubs. The Wild won a 2003 conference quarterfinals matchup in seven games, while the Avalanche knocked off Minnesota in six games during the same round in 2008. Johnny Manziel Jersey . Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon. Cory Spangenberg Jersey . The Thunder earned the Game 1 win with a 100-86 victory Saturday night. Oklahoma City dominated the first half and led by 22 at the break, but saw its lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. http://www.padresrookiestore.com/Padres-Tyson-Ross-Kids-Jersey/. Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period. Brad Hand Jersey . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight preseason win, a 107-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Jose Pirela Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night.ST. LOUIS - Jake Allen was a little more than 3 minutes from his third straight shutout Thursday night.In the end, the St. Louis Blues goalie had to hold on just to win. The New Jersey Devils scored three times in a span of 2:34 late in the third period but came up just short as the Blues extended their winning streak to seven games with a 4-3 victory.Allen would have enjoyed another shutout, but said the main thing was getting two more points.I think shutouts are bonuses, he said. If I got that third one, great, Ill enjoy it for a little bit. But Im just focusing on wins right now. Definitely a couple of things to learn from the last few minutes, but all in all, we got the win and well move on to Saturday.Allen made 24 saves and ran his shutout streak to 184 minutes before giving up his first goal in two weeks.Vladimir Tarasenko stretched his goal-scoring streak to four games — he and Blues linemate Jaden Schwartz each had a goal and an assist. Tarasenko has scored five goals during his four-game streak and eight in his last six games overall.Its not about the scoring; its about the wins, Tarasenko said. We have seven in a row. So lets make it eight and prepare for the next game.Alexander Steen and David Backes also scored for St. Louis. Jori Lehtera had two assists.Allen, who stopped 26 shots in blanking the Devils 1-0 Tuesday night in New Jersey, had his shutout streak snapped at 184:01 when Michael Ryder beat him with a wrist shot at 16:35 of the third period.Prior to that, Allen had not allowed a goal since Vancouvers Linden Vey scored on him at 11:57 of the third period on Oct. 23.I think he gets a lot of help from their team, New Jerseys Patrik Elias said. Their defencemen are some of the best in the league, if not the best, and they move the puck and dont give the other team great chances.dddddddddddd. When they do give up some, obviously hes played well for them. Marek Zidlicky then scored at 18:09 for New Jersey and Ryder added his second of the game with 50.5 seconds left to make it 4-3.Its tough, Allen said. I just wanted to bear down and give them nothing. You had 1 minute left to get two points and lay it on the line. We got it. We squeezed it out.Blues coach Ken Hitchcock felt the team let Allen down the last few minutes.I feel bad for him, Hitchcock said. Its a win but it feels a little bit like a loss because we let the guy down because he was so good. Jersey came in with real purpose; they really pushed us hard.Cory Schneider made 22 saves for the Devils. He was pulled in favour of Keith Kinkaid after Steen scored on a power play at 7:10 of the third period.Tarasenko got the Blues on the board just before the end of the first period with another highlight-reel goal. He got the puck from Schwartz in the slot, manoeuvred to his left through three Devils, then pulled Schneider out of position before lifting the puck over him at 19:55.Hes probably the hottest player in the league right now, Schneider said. You cant deny his skill. I tried to out-wait him but hes real patient and got it up at the end which I wasnt sure he was going to be able to do. It was another nice goal from him.Schwartz made it 2-0 at 11:05 of the second when he took a long clearing pass from Barret Jackman and skated in alone on Schneider. Schwartz put a wrist shot over Schneiders right shoulder for his sixth goal.NOTES: New Jersey began a stretch of playing 15 out of 20 on the road. ... Schneider has started all 13 games for the Devils. ' ' ' |
theres a lot more grinding and a lot more 
