The penalty killing took a beating.
The Avalanche entered Sunday night’s game against Edmonton with the NHL’s second-best penalty killing percentage of .861. That partly explains why the Avs were tied with a league-high 12 wins and 26 points.
Killing penalties, however, was a painful experience against the Oilers, who scored four times with the man-advantage in their 5-3 victory at the Pepsi Center.
It was Colorado’s first loss in seven home games.
Ryan Potulny, playing his first game of the season, scored the eventual game-winner 4:44 into the third period, making it 4-2 with Cody McLeod in the penalty box for hooking. The Avs, who never led, got within 4-3 on David Jones’ goal at 7:27, but they took two ensuing penalties — including their second bench minor for too many men — to deter a comeback.
Edmonton scored on three of its first four power plays to build a 3-1 lead after the first period. Colorado also capitalized with the man-advantage, getting to within 3-2 early in the second period with T.J. Hensick’s first goal of the season.
