Colorado cruises
Avs hammer Blackhawks with huge help from Barrie’s big game
The Avs, who hadn’t scored more than one goal in their last four games, opened up a close game with three third-period goals to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 and climb back into playoff position — however temporary with the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues each playing late games.
“We were aware that we had just scored four goals in our last four games, so we knew it was a big game for us to step up and give our goalies some support,” Barrie said.
Colorado, which was 3-for-3 on the power play, entered the game a point behind Anaheim and St. Louis in the Western Conference wild-card race, and three points behind Los Angeles. The Avs have four remaining games, including at the Ducks and Kings on Sunday and Monday, respectively, and against the Blues in the April 7 regularseason finale in Denver. They also play at San Jose on Thursday.
“(Five goals) for us and zero goals against — that’s a good result for us before the road trip,” said right winger Mikko Rantanen, who had a goal and an assist to snap a threegame points drought. “We know it’s going to be a huge three games on the road, and the last one, obviously. It’s good to get some confidence offensively.”
Forward Sven Andrighetto scored Colorado’s first and fifth goals. Barrie produced the second one on a 4-on-3 power play and assisted on Rantanen’s man-advantage goal
Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie had an extraordinary game Friday night. There’s probably no name for it — like a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) — but Barrie’s goal, two assists and goal-preventing save spearheaded Colorado in a must-win situation at the Pepsi Center.
6:25 into the third period to give the Avs a 3-0 lead. They were leading 2-0 when Barrie dug the puck off Colorado’s goal line in the second period to prevent a goal.
“Just kind of a reactionary thing. You see the puck heading over and you just want to try to get a stick on it,” Barrie said. “It was probably my fault the puck was even that close to the goal line. But I was fortunate I could get a stick on it.”
Leading scorer Nathan Mac- Kinnon, who snapped a threegame streak without a point with an assist on Rantanen’s goal, made a similar goal-saving play in the first period to aid goalie Semyon Varlamov, who left late in the third period with an injury.
Varlamov and company upended Chicago fifth-string goalie Collin Delia, who made his NHL debut in Thursday’s 6-2 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Delia left that game with cramps but got the win.
Andrighetto, who had missed the last three games with a leg injury, gave the Avs a 1-0 lead on a terrific individual play. He accepted a pass from defenseman Sam Girard on Colorado’s blue line, drove through the neutral zone and split two Chicago defensemen to get to the top of the crease — with another defender nearby. Andrighetto created a 1on-1 situation with Delia and wristed the puck past the goalie inside the near post.
Barrie doubled the Avs’ lead at 8:14 of the second period, scoring on a one-time blast from Rantanen at 8:14.
“The power play goes 3-for-3. It’s been a sore spot the last couple games. They step up and elevate their game to get the job done,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We moved the puck. We didn’t stand around with the puck. We had shot mentality, going to the net. It was just more hungry and moving the puck crisp.”