Detroit – Yet again, it was the season in a microcosm.
The Avalanche had the lead late in the third period and couldn’t hold it. More lost points in the standings, more angst in the dressing room about how it got away. Only it didn’t quite finish like that.
The Avs, after being sent to overtime with 1:27 left in regulation on a goal by Kris Draper, rallied on Brad Richardson’s second-chance putback against goalie Chris Osgood in OT to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.
“It’s been that kind of year, but I like how we still stuck with it and got rewarded,” Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said.
A little more than a month ago, the Avs came into The Joe on a Sunday and were embarrassed on national television. This time was different, as the Avs took it to Detroit for large portions of the game.
“It was night and day. We had the puck a little bit more,” Quenneville said. “They’re still dangerous and kept coming there at the end.”
But Richardson put an end to Detroit’s surge in play when he took a lead pass from Wojtek Wolski and jammed home the rebound to his own shot at 2:41 of overtime. The Avs outshot Detroit 3-0 in the extra session after a third period in which the Red Wings outshot Colorado 18-5 and overcame 2-1 and 3-2 deficits.
“The puck came right back to me, and I was able to scoot it under him,” Richardson said. “They really turned it on in the third, and we knew they wouldn’t let that game go easy. But it was character that we can come back and keep our composure and come out with the win.”
Avs rookie Paul Stastny extended his points streak to 15 games – two shy of Teemu Selanne’s NHL record for rookies – with two assists, including one on a backhand goal by Brett McLean that gave Colorado a 3-2 lead with 11:19 left. It was the Avs’ first shot of the period, as they probably sat back a little too much after getting a 2-0 lead on second-period goals by Milan Hejduk and Tyler Arnason.
Draper’s bang-bang goal against Peter Budaj (31 saves) tied it 3-3. Draper previously tied the game 2-2 early in the third with a soft goal.
“I was mad at that one, should have had it,” Budaj said. “But we bounced back and got the (McLean) goal. They’re a good team and got that last goal with some nice plays, but it feels good to get the two points anyway. I thought we played a pretty good game, especially first two periods.”
The Avs have won three games in a row and are 2-0 on their current five-game road trip. The playoffs remain a longshot, but they’re doing all they can, which is to get as many points as they can before time runs out.
“We’re not quitting on the playoffs,” said Avs captain Joe Sakic, who had a quiet day. “All we can do is go out every night and try to get the next two points. We know it’s an uphill battle, but we’re not giving up.”
Said Draper: “We didn’t play too well until the third. Anytime you get down two goals like we did, it’s tough. But we were able to get back in the game and got a point. But we know we need to be better right now.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
