The name “Bourque” has been a friendly one at the Pepsi Center for years. Hanging above the ice, in fact, is a giant banner commemorating Ray Bourque and his No. 77 with the Avalanche.
But Rene Bourque — no relation — has been no friend to the Avs down the stretch of the NHL regular season.
Bourque scored the game-winning goal in the Calgary Flames’ 2-1 victory over the Avs on Friday night in a showdown-style game. He also scored the game-winner March 17 in the Calgary win at the Pepsi Center that started the Avs’ current slide.
Bourque also scored the game-winner for the Flames in their 2-1 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, which set up the chance for Calgary to get even in the standings with a win Friday.
In the Flames’ six games against Colorado this season, Bourque has six goals.
Bourque’s deflection of Cory Sarich’s shot Friday past Craig Anderson at 2:11 of the third proved to be the difference.
“We had a good shift down low behind the goal line, and I just tried to take it to the net. The puck popped out to the point, and I got a stick on it and it found a way in,” said Bourque, who recently signed a six-year, $19 million contract extension with the Flames. Now, the Flames are even with the Avs, with momentum on their side.
“We know what it’s going to take to win and get into the playoffs,” he said. “Everybody has been putting their best efforts in.”
Footnotes.
All six games between Colorado and Calgary this season were decided by one goal. . . . The Avs’ second line had a poor night. Center Matt Duchene went his 11th straight game without a goal and lost 9-of-13 faceoffs. . . . The game was a sellout, the Avs’ fifth of the season.
