Some nights, a goaltender can look completely out of control, yet manage to get in front of all the shots and lead to considerable consternation among the frustrated shooters. That was the case Saturday, when Edmonton’s Jeff Deslauriers had 39 saves in a heroic — but ultimately losing — effort against the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.
Then there are the times when the other goalie has such an off night, and the goals are so “soft,” skaters can see the red light flash and ask themselves, “That went in?” That was the scenario for the Avalanche on Monday night, when St. Louis starter Chris Mason — usually far more solid and reliable — was shaky before being yanked in what turned out to be the Avalanche’s 5-2 victory over the Blues at the Pepsi Center.
Of course, they all look like lasers in the summary.
Brandon Yip had two goals, and Chris Stewart had a goal and two assists — and a fight with Denver-born winger B.J. Crombeen two seconds after Yip’s second goal made it 5-2 — as the Avalanche won its third in the last four starts and pulled even in points with Vancouver in the Northwest Division. The Canucks still are listed in the top spot because they have played one fewer game.
Stewart’s goal was his 18th of the season, tying him for the team lead with Matt Duchene, and although his role is as a physical power forward, it raises the question of whether it’s wise for him to be fighting. It’s even more pertinent now that Avalanche enforcer David Koci will be out for a while with a broken right hand suffered in a first-period fight with the Blues’ D.J. King.
“It’s nice to get a goal and a couple of assists,” Stewart said, “but anytime you get in a physical altercation and it’s been awhile, you can be a little rusty.”
Then he laughed and added, “But that felt good too. The games I’m on the scoresheet are the games I’m more physical too. It all comes with the territory of being a power forward. I’ve been in the shoes (Crombeen) was in too, when we’re down a couple of goals and not many guys will give you a fight.”
Paul Stastny and T.J. Galiardi had the other goals for the Avalanche, which was without rookie center Ryan O’Reilly in the wake of the bruised foot he suffered Saturday. X-rays didn’t reveal any fractures, and Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said O’Reilly was considered “day to day.” However, Avalanche winger Wojtek Wolski was struck by a shot on a penalty kill late in the second period against the Blues, went to the dressing room briefly, returned to the game, but was hobbling and visited the X-ray room.
The Avalanche trailed 2-1 after Blues defenseman Erik Johnson beat Craig Anderson at 7:59 of the second period from the top of the right circle, but Yip’s power-play goal at 16:42 of the first tied it and the Avalanche took control with three unanswered goals in the first 6:34 of the second period. Mason gave up the five goals on only 15 shots before giving way to Ty Conklin, and the backup had 18 saves in shutting out the somewhat off-the-accelerator Avalanche the rest of the way.
“It was a great night for our team,” said Yip, who now has 11 goals in only 22 games for Colorado after missing the first part of the season with a finger injury and playing six games at Lake Erie. “We had some turnovers that cost us those two early goals, but we fought back.”
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
