Colorado wins this game, 6-5. With all that offense, it was sad to see John Michael Liles points streak end. But having read few of the articles lately, I'm sure he's much happier with the team getting the win than his own personal stats.
Tonight the Boys showed they could play a more physical game. 2:25 into the first and David Liffiton dropped the gloves with Tim Jackman. I give the win to Liffiton this time. By the way, it's very odd to see a guy in the #5 jersey and he not have the mouthguard sticking out of his mouth.
The first minor penalty of the game goes to Liles, also at 2:25 in the first, for high-sticking. Upon review of the play, it wasn't Lilies' stick that caught the Flames player, but another Flames stick. Oh well, something like that happens quick, and the sticks blend together. Fortunately the Avs kill it off. I know, I'm slightly biased but I had written Daniel Winnik helps kill the penalty by carrying the puck into the Flames zone.
At 5:02 Liles gets another penalty, this one is deserved as he trips Iggy and he takes a trip to the sin bin. While there, unfortunately, Niklas Hangman scores the first goal on a slap shot. So Liles leaves the box hanging his head and feeling shame.
Fifty seconds later the ex-Av Alex Tanguay, gets the first minor penalty against the Flames and takes his turn sitting on the short bench. He didn't get to sit there long though, ten seconds after making the trip to the box Stewart scores his first goal of the night, on a play that brought back memories of Ryan Smyth. Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny got the assists for this goal. Yes, the Avs actually got a Power Play goal.
And it stayed tied for all of six minutes, before Jackman scores his first of the season, what is it with players and getting their first against the Avs? It seems to be happening at every chance. And the score is 2-1 for the Flames heading into the second period.
It takes until more than halfway through the second period for another goal to happen. Matt Stajan scores one on Boods to bring the Flames up 3-1. Did I mention that this is Stajan's first goal of the season? I told you the Avs like to give those out.
Two seconds after this goal, right off the face-off, Phillipe Dupuis drops the gloves with Stefan Meyer. I think this one was a draw, with Meyer going down to the ice first, but I like that Dupuis dropped them to try and give the guys a bit of a boost.
A little later in the second, at the 16:15 mark, Stewie has a very pretty goal, with assists to Ryan O'Reilly. Yup very pretty, this brings up his goal count for the night at two. This brings the game to 3-2 with 3:45 left in the second.
Stewie did not want to go into the locker room trailing by one, so he figured, why not score another goal? Twenty-nine seconds later he gets his hat trick, this time assisted by Matt Duchene and Kyle Cumiskey. The Avs have a tie hockey game. His first goal came from down-low and being gritty, the second one he showed patience and nice hands, the third one was a rocket. The Calgary crowd is silent.
Unfortunately, Olli Jokinen didn't want to go to his locker room with a tie game, so he scores to make the game 4-3. It looked to me like Boods was trying to cheat a little on that one and his skate wasn't pressed up against the goal past completely.
Going into the second intermission the Avs are down 4-3. What I like about the team this year is that they don't give up, they just keep going and rolling.
Less than two minute into the third, Brandon Yip scores to tie the game. It's his second of the season, he had a pretty little play, assisted by O'Reilly and Wilson . This goal marks Ryan Wilson's first point of the season. The Avs have a tie game, once again.
A little over four minutes later T.J. Galiardi scores and Stastny and Holøs are credited with the assists. This is Jonas Holøs' first point of the season. And the Avs take the lead for the first time this game. The score is 5-4.
Eight minutes later, the curse of the ex-Avs strikes again. This time in the form of Alex Tanguay. That guys sure has the Avs number. Tanguay ties it up at five.
Three minutes later, at the 17:40 mark, Winnik scores a goal, and I go crazy... no seriously, I kinda did. O'Reilly and Cumiskey got the assists on this one. It should be noted that Winnik now has four goals this season, which ties his goals from last season in Phoenix.
The Flames had an empty net, but couldn't capitalize on it. So Winnik's goal stands as the game winner.
Some Peter Budaj trivia: this is his 9th year within the Colorado Avalanche organization. He gets the win, but his stats take a hit.
Next up: The Cannon The Blue Jackets.