Milestone by Iginla highlights rout of L.A.
In third period, veteran notches his 600th career goal AVALANCHE 4, KINGS 1
Jarome Iginla made history in the Avalanche’s 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
The veteran winger’s powerplay goal at 13:02 of the third period enabled him to become the 19th player in NHL history to score 600 career goals, and his shot caromed in off Los Angeles defenseman Jake Muzzin to give the Avalanche the three-goal lead.
The wait was over. Iginla had been stuck on 599 through three games after scoring against Arizona on Dec. 26, and the goal was his 11th of the season.
“You have to get lucky for sure,” said Iginla, 38. “You have to get lucky at times. That was a lucky play. (Tyson Barrie) gave it to me. I was trying to walk in and see what would open up down low, and (Gabe Landeskog) was right in front, I think battling with Muzzin in front, and I was trying to put something in there for him through the screen for him. (Matt Duchene) was going back door, and it was just a great bounce to go off the skate and in.”
Because of the traffic in front, it wasn’t a clear-cut Iginla goal at first, and there was initial hesitancy to celebrate. But it quickly sunk in that, yes, the son of a Nigerian immigrant to Canada, Elvis Iginla, had just hit the NHL benchmark achieved by so few.
“I definitely didn’t want to cheer too early in case it went off one of our guys,” said Iginla. He said that
when Landeskog and Duchene both looked at him, he was more certain that it was his goal.
“It was kind of unconventional,” he admitted. “When I got my 500th (for Calgary), it went off somebody else too, pretty moldy goal. You take ’em all and are not picky and stuff, so it felt good. They all feel good and it was neat to get it here at home, and the fans were great.”
The downside was that his mother, Susan, plus his father and brothers all had returned home to Canada after spending some time in Denver hoping to see No. 600. Also, his late grandfather, Richard Schechard, who was especially important in his youth in Edmonton after his parents split, wasn’t alive to see it happen.
“My grandpa was a big part of my career and getting me in hockey,” he said. “And so was my mom. My mom was here over the holidays, and so were my dad and brothers. It would have been neat to get it earlier, but I appreciate just getting it. I know they were watching it on TV. It’s one of those things, you know you’re going to get it, but they can’t just stay around and put pressure on you. They booked the trip, and that was the way it went. I’m happy and thrilled to get it tonight.”
Iginla’s benchmark goal overshadowed Barrie’s four-point night — the Colorado defenseman had two goals and two assists — and the Avalanche also was short a defenseman for the final half of the game after Erik Johnson suffered a lower-body injury in the second period and didn’t return to the ice. The injury wasn’t believed to be serious, but more word should come Tuesday.
“I don’t mind it at all,” Barrie said of being overshadowed. “I couldn’t be more happy for Jarome. He’s one of the best teammates out there, one of the best guys I’ve ever met. It’s impressive what he’s doing, and it’s really no surprise. Getting to play with him the last year and a half, to see the way he conducts himself, how he comes to the rink every day and how he treats people, there’s no better guy.”
The win over the Kings improved Colorado to 7-9-3 at home. The Avs closed to within four points of Winnipeg and the second Western Conference wild-card playoff spot.
Curiously, Colorado is 12-9 on the road.
With backup Jhonas Enroth in the net as Jonathan Quick got a night off for the Kings, the Avalanche outshot Los Angeles 33-31. Duchene had the other Colorado goal, his 18th of the season, giving the Avs a 3-1 lead at 1:23 of the third.
Then Iginla stole the show.