Compher Steals The Show As Avs Defeat Blues

Well, Tyson Jost has now officially made his NHL debut.

Overall, fans definitely have a reason to be optimistic about this kid. He has the speed, skill, and determination to become a factor for this rebuilding Avs squad. He would start off the first period feeling a few nerves, but once the second period began we would see the same type of player that we saw for Team Canada and the University of North Dakota all season long. He would give himself opportunties for himself with each shift, showing why he is often compared to the likes of Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathon Toews.

With Jost making his debut, that marks the 7th player in the Avs roster to make their NHL debut this season.

In typical Avs fashion, the team would be outshot in the opening frame 13-5 where the only goal of the period would come from the St. Louis Blues as Blues forward Ryan Reeves would tip a sharp angle shot, sneaking it past Calvin Pickard.

The only high quality scoring chance that would come from the Avs, would be when Sven Andrighetto and Nathan MacKinnon would bring the puck up the ice on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Andrighetto would set a nice pass across the ice to MacKinnon, where the puck would bounce over MacKinnon’s stick before he could wire the puck on net.

Tyson Jost would get his first chance in the first period, as he would block a shot from a Blues defenseman at the point, carrying the puck up the ice and sending a low shot that Jake Allen would ultimately get a piece of.

Unfortunately, the Avs would get themselves into penalty trouble late in the first period as Blake Comeau would get his stick in the legs of Magnus Paajarvi to give the Blues the late man advantage going into the second period.

However, the Avs would do a good job at killing off the Comeau penalty, and for a good portion of the second period the Avs would finally be able to generate a few more opportunities.

The Avs would get the equalizer from JT Compher, as MacKinnon would tear into the Blues zone forcing all of the Blues defenders to focus on him. MacKinnon would fire a low hard shot, resulting in a rebound for Compher to bury the biscuit into the wide open net past Jake Allen.

Following the equalizing goal, the Avs would continue to gather some momentum as they would go on another powerplay getting a few more chances. Rantanen would have a beautiful opportunity, as he would use his speed and size to force himself to the front of the net, but would whiff on the tuck in opportunity to give the Avs the 2-1 lead over the Blues.

The Avs would take another late penalty, as Rene Bourque would get tied up and would ultimately be called for a hooking call. In which the Avs would kill the penalty, to keep the score tied at one heading into the final frame.

After finishing the first period with only five shots, the Avs would explode with 15 shots alone in the second period to finish the period outshooting the Blues 20-17.

Now the Avs would be heading into the third period, an area that has been abysmal all season long for the team as they have made some of their most memorable meltdowns this season in the final frame. The Avs would be looking to avoid, to nab the victory for Jost’s NHL debut, and avoid the Blues from clinching a playoff berth for another day.

Jost would continue to generate some opportunities for himself, as in the third period he would gather the puck off of the blue line to wire a shot that would go off of the top of Allen’s glove.

The Avs would continue their dominance in the special teams in the third period, as Andrighetto would be called for a penalty and the Avs would not allow a single shot for the Blues in their powerplay opportunity.

The third period would ultimately go scoreless, but it would be the best one that the Avs played all season long. Practically the entire period was in the Blues zone, as Compher took over the game. His last chance to get his second goal of the night, was when he would bring the puck up the ice, chip it to the front of the mouth of the net getting Allen out of position. Unfortunately, Compher would wire a shot that would only find the post.

The game would need extra time, which would clinch a playoff berth for the St. Louis Blues for the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In overtime, it would be a back and forth affair as both teams would generate opportunities for themselves. Jost would get some valuable ice time in the overtime period. Rantanen would find himself on a breakaway after stealing the puck from a Blues defenseman, but would be unable to get the puck past Allen.

The Blues would find themselves with a 2-on-1 opportunity with six seconds remaining, only ending in a fabulous save from Calvin Pickard to save the game for the Avs, and send it into the shootout.

Matt Duchene would be the first one up for the Avs, as he would come in slowly on Allen, and snipe a low shot to give the Avs the shootout lead. Pickard would follow it up by coming up with a fantastic save on Alexander Steen.

Jost would be given a shootout opportunity, where he would try the same thing that Duchene did in the first round, but was unable to find the back of the net.

Up next for the Blues would be Tarasenko, who would try a variation of the famous Peter Forsberg deke, but Pickard would be up to the task.

The game would fall onto the stick of MacKinnon, as he would make no mistake by cruising in and wiring a shot five hole past Jake Allen to give the Avs the 2-1 shootout victory, snapping a seven-game losing streak.