Is there a goaltending problem with the Avalanche?
It didn’t look like it Tuesday night. David Aebischer was top-notch, as good as a goalie can be in Colorado’s 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center, the Avs’ second win in a row.
Aebischer bested tough Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun to the point where fans were chanting “Abby, Abby” with two minutes left. It was Colorado’s second shutout of the season, both by the Swiss fifth-year veteran.
“I’m happy with the way I played. Now I just have to get consistent,” said Aebischer, who made 32 saves, including a third period in which his team was outshot 14-1. “We played really well as a team. The last two games, I think we’ve played really solid defensively.”
The Avs overcame 10 Nashville power plays, including five in the third period. The Predators had a two-man advantage for much of the final three minutes, after pulling Vokoun and already on the power play, but Aebischer would not be denied his shutout. He made a couple of brilliant stops in the game, including a doorstep pad save on Vernon Fiddler and a poke-check save on a Steve Sullivan breakaway.
It was Aebischer’s first victory since Nov. 29, putting an end to one of the toughest stretches of his career, during which he frequently spent games on the bench. Aebischer recently consulted some close friends for advice, including noted goaltending coach Francois Allaire, who used to work with Patrick Roy.
Part of Allaire’s message was: Don’t forget it’s a game.
“It was tough times, and I wanted to get out of it as soon as possible,” Aebischer said. “I tried to erase as much as possible, but what happened, happened. The biggest key is just to play the game and have fun.”
Unheralded Bob Boughner and Brett Clark scored the first two goals for the Avs, with Boughner’s first-period score his first as a member of the team. It came at 15:23 of the first period, and the score stuck until the 15:33 mark of the second, when Clark scored just his third of the season.
Clark snuck down the weak side and one-timed a Joe Sakic pass past Vokoun on the power play.
“I mean, Joe Sakic made the whole play with that pass,” Clark said. “I saw a little opening and came down, and he put it right on my stick.”
The Avs played a solid defensive second period, limiting Nashville to just six shots on net. Rob Blake had an outstanding night for the Avs, playing more than 28 minutes.
The third period was a bit different, with referees Mick McGeough and Brad Meier whistling five minors on Colorado.
“The penalty-killers did a nice job in front of me,” Aebischer said. “They have a very good power play with (Paul) Kariya and Sullivan on each side.”
Alex Tanguay ended any late suspense with an empty-netter.
“That’s a good team over there, and it’s a win we wanted to have,” Blake said. “Now we go on the road for a tough game in Minnesota, so there are no breathers, though.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
