Avalanche fall to Red Wings in overtime

Annunen has best start with 28 saves

Justus Annunen had the best start of his young NHL career, but the Colorado Avalanche couldn’t provide enough offensive support to get the rookie his second win.

Patrick Kane scored in overtime and Dylan Larkin factored into both goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Avalanche for the first time in 11 tries with a 2-1 overtime triumph Thursday night at Little Caesar’s Arena.

Annunen stopped 28 of 30 shots, including all 22 at 5-on-5. Larkin scored on the power play midway through the third period, and Kane scored on a feed from the Detroit captain with 1:18 remaining in the extra session.

Nathan Mackinnon had the lone goal for the Avalanche. Colorado probably should have scored more than once in the first half of this contest, but Detroit goalie Alex Lyon had a nice game. And then the Red Wings were much better in front of him over the final 30-35 minutes of regulation and into extra time.

Here are some observations as the Avalanche drop to 13-13-5 on the road this season:

1. Annunen has now started two of the past four and three of the past eight games for the Avalanche. That might not seem like a big deal, but it does represent an uptick in “not Alexandar Georgiev” starts.

Georgiev started 18 of 20 games between Dec. 17 and Feb. 5, and played 30 minutes in relief in one of the two contests he didn’t start. Annunen got the second half of a back-to-back Feb. 6, but Avs coach Jared Bednar has now played him twice this month with the club on normal rest.

It’s also worth noting that Ivan Prosvetov was sent to Loveland to get back into a rhythm by playing more consistently for the Eagles in the AHL and he’s responded well. He’s 5-0 in five starts, with eight goals allowed and a .952 save percentage. It’s all small samples, but maybe the Avs don’t need another external option to help give Georgiev more rest before the playoffs start, after all.

2. Special teams continue to be an issue since the All-star break. The power play is now 2 for 29 in the past nine games. This is the worst nine-game stretch of the season with the extra man. Colorado’s penalty kill has now allowed six goals in 28 chances during that span.

The power play generated plenty of good looks in the past two games at Ball Arena, but the Red Wings were more dangerous with their opportunities even before the goal.

3. Annunen had a strong game, but the defensive effort in front of him was also excellent for much of this contest. The Red Wings created very little before the Avalanche scored, and then the guys in front of Annunen did help erase a few potential scoring chances as Detroit pushed for an equalizer.

The Avs looked like a dominant team for the first 27 minutes or so, but the Red Wings found plenty of chances in the second half of the game. The skaters in front of Annunen deserve credit for digging in and defending well when they were pressed into it, particularly at 5-on-5.

There were multiple Grade-a chances that ended without a shot on goal. Former Avs center JT Compher had a glorious chance to score in the final seconds of regulation, but Annunen made a huge save to get Colorado to overtime.

4. Logan O’connor returned to the Avs lineup after missing the past the past four games with an injury. He looked like he didn’t miss a beat. Bednar reunited him with Ross Colton and Miles Wood on the team’s de facto second line and that trio had a great first period before helping to set up the opening goal.

If that line continues to play well, it should allow Bednar to slot Valeri Nichushkin with Artturi Lehkonen and Ryan Johansen once he returns from the NHL/NHLPA Players’ Assistance Program.

5. Remember when the Avs’ top three players took turns driving the offense through the first three months of the season? Mikko Rantanen was great for the first month, then Cale Makar was fantastic for a month. It was Mackinnon’s turn in the third month, but he hasn’t given up the baton since.

Mackinnon had another huge night, leading all skaters with 11 shots on goal and 16 shot attempts. The top line was dominant, though Lyon did well to keep them to just one goal. The nine forwards who don’t play on Mackinnon’s line combined for only 19 shot attempts.