Colorado Avalanche drop their third straight in overtime

The Colorado Avalanche lost their third straight in overtime as they dropped tonight’s game 5-4 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After a rough second period, the Avs fought back late to steal a point in the standings, but they were unable to finish the comeback.

It was a rather exciting start to the game as the teams combined for three goals in the first eight minutes of the first period. Tyson Barrie got the ball rolling with his ninth goal of the season. Finally, the Avs had a goaltender interference review go their way as John Tortorella decided to challenge the goal when it looked like Tyson Jost had made contact with Joonas Korpisalo. The officials determined that Jost was pushed into the Columbus goaltender by his own defender so the goal counted.

When play finally got back underway after the review, the Avalanche wasted little time extending their lead as Carl Soderberg scored only 12 seconds later to make it 2-0. Unfortunately, it took only 42 seconds for the Blue Jackets to cut the lead back down to one as former Oshawa Generals captain Boone Jenner scored his seventh goal of the season. The goal came after a brutal giveaway created when Tyson Barrie and Nikita Zadorov collided in front of the Avalanche net.

After the flurry of activity, there was a whole lot of nothing until the end of the period.

While the Avalanche went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead, it didn’t take long for them to cough it up. A little more than a minute into the second period, Thomas Vanek scored his first goal since coming over to Columbus at the trade deadline. The score was 2-2, but shots got up to 15-5 for the Blue Jackets by the midway point of the game.

The Blue Jackets took their first lead of the night when star sophomore Zach Werenski scored on a blast from the point during a powerplay at the 12:36 mark of the second period. Columbus was able to extend that lead only three minutes later when Thomas Vanek scored his second of the night. It was an incredibly weak goal and one Varly would definitely like to have back.

Having scored four unanswered goals, the Blue Jackets went into the second intermission with a 4-2 lead.

After a rather dull start to the third period, The Avs were finally able to cut the lead to one as Gabriel Landeskog scored his 8th powerplay (21st total) goal of the season. Then with just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Carl Soderberg scored his second of the game to tie things up 4-4. It was a bit of a weak goal against Korpisalo, but as they say, it doesn’t matter how, all that matters is how many.

Luck was on Colorado’s side in this one as the Blue Jackets beat Varlamov but hit the post - not once but twice - late in the third.

The game went to overtime, and after a great first shift from MacKinnon and Landeskog, the Blue Jackets were finally able to get possession of the puck and they never gave it back. Seth Jones scored the game-winner just 59 seconds into overtime giving columbus a 5-4 victory.

The Numbers

Observations

• Despite a weak goal, Semyon Varlamov did all he could to give his team a chance to win. He held the team in this game while they were being outplayed for long stretches.
• For a stretch late in the first and into the second period, the Avs went nearly 20 minutes without a shot on net. That can’t happen if you want to win a game.
• Coach Bednar was clearly afraid to rely on his bottom defensive pair tonight. Anton Lindholm and Duncan Siemens only played 10 minutes apiece.
• Alex Kerfoot is definitely having some difficulties playing this late in the season. His line was very ineffective all night.
• That cannon is rather annoying.