Is it time to petition NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to change the name of the Northwest Division to the Parity Division? Or the “Any Given Night” Division?
The Western Conference champion Calgary Flames came to the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night in first place in the Northwest, six points ahead of the Avalanche and unbeaten in eight of their previous 10 games.
The Avalanche’s response: So? The Avs roughed up the Flames 7-4, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Joe Sakic scored two goals for Colorado to snap a 10-game drought, and Marek Svatos added his team-leading 29th of the season. David Aebischer got the victory in goal and got into his first career fight, in the third period against former teammate Phil Sauve. To call it a fight might be a stretch, as no punches were thrown, but Aebischer said he is now available for tips to prospective local boxers – and teammate Ian Laperriere.
“Lappy, for sure. Maybe Brad May and (Bob) Boughner, not so, but Lappy for sure,” Aebischer said. “It was a surprise to me. All of a sudden (Sauve) was behind me, and he asked me if I wanted to go. I couldn’t say no.”
A fracas developed in Aebischer’s crease after a whistle, with Aebischer in the thick of it. Sauve skated from the other end, threw down his gloves and grabbed Aebischer.
“I saw him throw a punch and, in my book, that makes it six-on-five,” said Sauve, who allowed seven goals on 27 shots. “(It was) out of frustration, I guess.”
A 2-2 game in the second period became 6-2 as the Avs got consecutive goals from Sakic, John- Michael Liles, Antti Laaksonen and Svatos. It was the second time this season the Avs scored seven goals at home against the team that came in with the fewest goals allowed in the West.
“We’re in an important stretch right now, and tonight was a big win for us,” Sakic said. “Now we’ve got Dallas and Vancouver next, two other teams we’re trying to catch.”
Laaksonen’s goal, at 13 minutes, 22 seconds of the period, came on a short-handed breakaway to give the Avs a 5-2 lead. The Flames cut a 6-2 deficit to 6-4 in the third, but Alex Tanguay rebuilt the lead to three with his 21st goal.
Chuck Kobasew scored his first career hat trick for the Flames, but it was a silent Calgary dressing room afterward.
“We didn’t play for 60 minutes,” Kobasew said. “It’s pretty much that simple.”
Avalanche special teams contributed to the game’s turning points. The penalty-killing unit staved off two 5-on-3 advantages, including a 44-second stretch in the first period of a 1-1 game.
Sakic’s goals came on the power play, both set up by Tanguay. The latter score, at 7:41 of the second, was into an open net against a fooled Sauve. Laaksonen’s short-handed breakaway was another crucial score.
“He made the save on my first shot, but the puck was still there for me to chip and I was fortunate to put it in,” Laaksonen said. “It feels good to get back on the winning side after a couple of tough games.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
