Colorado Avalanche fail to contain Draisaitl, McDavid, lose in overtime 3-2

The Colorado Avalanche fall behind early against the Edmonton Oilers, mount a comeback, but can’t recover as an overtime goal by Connor McDavid gives the Oilers a 3-2 win in Edmonton. Samuel Girard and Colin Wilson get the goals for the Avs, Semyon Varlamov stopped 43 of 46 shots.

First Period

Nathan MacKinnon jukes Adam Larsson at the half-wall with incredible agility and races to the net for a scoring chance. Unfortunately, his far-post shot misses high.

Going back the other way, Michael Cammalleri beats Patrik Nemeth to a rebound at the side of the net, but the out-stretched left leg of Semyon Varlamov lifts up and stops him.

The Oilers’ first-line and top defensive pair have been the only group to give the Avs much trouble so far in this game. They come onto the ice for an offensive zone draw and generate a couple Connor McDavid shots. The Oilers crash the crease for rebounds, but Varlamov stands tall.

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After a positive start to the game, the Avalanche get stuck in their own zone for the majority of the next 10 minutes. Near the tail-end of a particularly scrambled shift, Tyson Jost takes a hooking penalty that definitely saved a wide open goal for an Edmonton forward. The Avalanche give up three shots on goal but find a way to hold the fort.

After One

One seven-shot shift by the McDavid line and a powerplay is enough to give the Oilers double the shots (7-19) and attempts (15-31) as the Avalanche. The Avs have had almost as many shots from in close as the Oilers, who have taken a lot of shots from the point.

Second Period

Zach Kassian and Duncan Siemans have been going after each other all game. In the first, Kassian chanrged at Varlamov after the whistle, forcing Siemens to push him away. This happened again in the second but with Kassian pushing Siemens into the net and knocking it off.

0-1

Leon Draisaitl picked up the puck at the far side boards, circles around the perimeter before cutting to the net past Mikko Rantanen and beating Varlamov to the glove side. Avs down one.

Colin Wilson draws a slashing penalty on Adam Larsson, sending the Avalanche to their first power play. Nemeth takes a massive slapshot from the point that trickles through Cam Talbot, Matt Nieto dives for the rebound but hits the post on an empty net.

The power plays seem to be increasing in frequency because not long after the penalty to Larsson ends, J.T. Compher takes a tripping penalty to give the Oilers their second power play opportunity.

0-2

Nikita Zadorov and Tyson Barrie get caught chasing behing the net, leaving Kassian in front of the net for a top-shelf goal assisted by Mark Letestu.

Nail Yakupov tries to get one back but his wrap-around shot for the far post hits something and goes wide. The former Oilers first-overall pick has shown some bite and speed in this game so far, he wants to beat the team that ruined him gave up on him.

1-2

Samuel Girard, who’s feet have been dancing all game, receives the puck from Carl Soderberg from below the goal-line and rips a slapshot from the point that finds the top corner. A great way for the Avalanche to lead into the second intermission. The lone assist goes to Soderberg but Nieto gets a cookie for his screen in front of the net.

After Two

The Avalanche made the mistake of giving the Oilers all of the momentum early in the game and they payed the price in the second. The shot (43-53), shot attempt (20-32), and scoring chance (23-25) differentials are not as bad as the first period, the Avalanche actually had more attempts and scoring chances in the second, but down one with a period to go, Colorado really needs to tighten things up heading into the third if they’re going to get a goal to tie it up.

Third Period

2-2

Alex Kerfoot grabs the puck at the top of the blueline and with a beautiful saucer pass, throws the puck to Jost. Jost tries to feed Colin Wilson. The puck bounces around two Oilers bodies and somehow right to it’s intended target. Wilson makes no mistake, tying the game.

David Warsofsky made his first impression on me when he jumped on the puck while both teams were changing and nailed Tablot in the face with his slapper. I think I could get used to this guy.

The rest of the third is played with an air of tension, with neither team wanting to give up a goal (and the two points that come with it). McDavid does get a breakaway but we’re not going to talk about that because Varlamov made the save and that’s all that really matters.

I don’t know why the Oilers are desparate to go for the extra point, I thought they knew how to tank? Either way, the period comes to an end with no goals for the final 19:10. To overtime we go!

After Three

The Avalanche have thrown 59 shot attempts towards Cam Talbot this evening, 29 of them resulting in shots on goal. The Avs had 30 scoring chances in total.The Edmonton Oilers have put up an astonishing 78 shot attempts towards Varlamov’s goal, 43 of them resulting in shots, and 37 of THOSE resulting in scoring chances.

Overtime

The overtime is a little more choppy than your average 3v3 competition. There have been two whistles in the first 1:23 of the period, with neither team valuing possession over chances for shots.

2-3

Connor McDavid taps home a Leon Draisaitl pass after the German drops young Sam Girard at the top of the slot that allows him to have a clear path to the net. Nathan MacKinnon was only a foot away from catching Draisaitl and saving his rookie pivot. Ah well, at least we got a point for the playoff race.

Nikita Zadorov was benched from the 2-0 goal until the end of the game, only playing 12:36 in total minutes. J.T. Compher also failed to get a shift in for the final six minutes of the game and two minutes of overtime. Nail Yakupov felt invisible all night, that’s probably because Bednar only played him for 6:46, none of those minutes coming in the final 17 minutes of the game. That’s a big statement to make from the coach to his players. For a team that gave up 81 shot attempts in 62 minutes, can you argue?

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We will see you on Saturday when the Avalanche complete their Western Canadian roadtrip with an afternoon game at 2:00pm M.T. against the Calgary Flames on Altitude. There are big playoff implications surrounding this game as both teams are tied in the standings with 69 (nice) points.