Alexander Kerfoot leads veteran lineup to preseason win over Wild.
Mikko Rantanen scored a 4on3 powerplay goal 1:29 into overtime to give the Avalanche a 43 preseason victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night at the Pepsi Center.
Secondyear Avs forward Alex Kerfoot had a hand in the first three goals, scoring the first. The Avs used a veteran lineup. The top line of center Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and Rantanen, as well as defensemen Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie and Ian Cole, each appeared in just their second preseason game.
Colorado improved to 23 heading into Sunday’s preseason finale at the Dallas. Minnesota (25 preseason) played without some of its top players including forwards Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal and defensemen Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon.
Three stars
1. Alex Kerfoot. Secondyear Avs forward had a goal, two primary assists and a penalty shot off iron.
2. Jason Zucker. Former DU Pioneers star had two goals for the Wild, including a shorthanded tally that forced OT.
3. Tyson Barrie. Colorado defenseman assisted on the game’s first and final goals and was solid in all three zones.
Play of the night: Kerfoot to Tyson Jost, who tapped the puck in from the paint to give Colorado a 21 lead. Barrie’s area pass that sprang Kerfoot for his goal was similarly impressive.
In net: Newcomer Philipp Grubauer played the entire game. Last week, Grubauer absorbed a 70 loss at Minnesota in a game he played all the way through behind a young and inexperienced lineup. For the Wild, Andrew Hammond — who was Avalanche property last season and played an extraordinary game in the playoffs against Nashville to extend the series to Game 6 — replaced Alex Stalock midway through the second period.
Rookie watch: Only one rookie — forward Sheldon Dries — played for the Avs. Dries was signed as a free agent in July after helping lead the Texas Stars to the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Final.
Made their case for the
roster: Dries and secondyear forward Dominic Toninato were the only Avs players in the lineup not assured of making the openingnight roster. Carl Soderberg was a healthy scratch along with rookie forward Logan O’Connor. Rookie Vladislav Kamenev (leg) was scratched because of an injury.