Colorado makes shots count to defeat San Jose
Playing without 25 percent of its goalscoring Tuesday, the Avalanche understandably didn’t pressure San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones as much as it would have liked. But good teams find ways to win amid adversity, and Colorado did just that without the services of its top two scorers at the Pepsi Center.
Minus Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, the Avs pulled off a 3-1 triumph over the San Jose Sharks, who limited the hosts to 10 shots through two periods and 20 for the game.
Rookie linemates Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher led the Avs offensively with a goal and an assist apiece, and goalie Jonathan Bernier was outstanding with 38 saves. Compher scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
“I felt really good tonight,” said Bernier, who made 14 saves in the first period, 11-of12 in the second and all 13 in the third. “They were missing a couple guys, but we were too. I thought we battled really hard.”
Jost, 19, produced his second career multiple-point game after he and his line struggled during a scoreless first period. Jost had a hand in two goals within the first five minutes of the second, scoring the second to give Colorado a 2-0 lead.
“We lost two of our best players, (including) one of the best players in the NHL right now,” Jost said of MacKinnon and Rantanen. “Guys had to step up, and I really wanted to be one of those guys. I want to make a difference every time I get on the ice. I’m not looking for that rookie thing anymore — that kind of treatment. I want to make a difference, and I want to be a top player in the
NHL. That’s my goal, that’s what I’ve been dreaming of my whole life and it’s right in front of me. I believe I can take it if I play the way I can. It’s exciting. I’m glad I got that goal, got that assist, but I’m not satisfied. I have to keep pushing here.”
The Avs nearly got their third goal midway through the third period. But San Jose forward Timo Meier made a stick save on the Sharks’ goal line with 10:04 remaining to keep it a 2-1 game. Meier backhanded the puck off the goal line after the Avs’ Colin Wilson put a shot off the back of Jones.
The Avs came out flat offensively and were outshot 14-3 in the first period. But they were flying early in the second and capitalized on two possessions within the first five minutes of the frame.
First, Jost came up with a turnover just inside the Sharks’ blue line. Jost either tripped defense- man Brenden Dillon with his stick or Dillon lost an edge, but play continued and Jost held the puck in the zone before making a backhanded pass to Compher, who was entering the zone with speed.
Compher drove to the net on a 2-on-1 advantage and dished in front to Gabriel Bourque before Dillon could get back to defend.
“That’s one of the strong suits of my game — try to get on D and force turnovers and move my feet and use my legs,” Jost said. “I was lucky to not get a penalty there, because I was afraid I was going to get my stick in his feet. But I kept it up above his hips, got a turnover and got it over to Comph.”
Jost made it 2-0 with a wicked wrister after receiving a headman pass from the neutral zone from Nail Yakupov. Defenseman Sam Girard, who also is 19, got the second assist on the play that featured two teenagers.
San Jose cut Colorado’s lead in half at 13:29 of the second period when Joel Ward slapped a rebound off the net camera cover. The closest referee originally waved off the goal, thinking the puck caromed off the cross bar, but replays proved it bounced off the camera inside the net.
The Avs now embark on a threegame trip that begins Thursday against Central Division rival St. Louis at the Scottrade Center. Colorado begins a consecutive-night stretch Saturday at Carolina and visits Buffalo on Sunday.
The Avalanche is back at home Wednesday, Feb. 14, in a Valentine’s Day affair against the Montreal Canadiens.