UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Right now, the term “power play” continues to be one steeped in unfortunate irony for the Avalanche.
Another woeful showing on one of the crucial special teams stopped the Avs’ win streak at two Saturday night, as the New York Islanders won 5-2 at the Nassau Coliseum.
Colorado allowed its NHL-leading third short-handed goal, went 0-for-4 on the power play and allowed a PP goal to the Isles in a game that went wrong late in the second period.
The Avs might have actually played a better game than in Friday’s win over the New Jersey Devils, outshooting the Islanders 30-25, but they know full well shot differentials don’t always decide games. It comes down to the fundamentals, and Colorado didn’t execute them in this one.
“There were a few different sequences that kind of built up, and then we were down a couple,” Avs coach Joe Sacco said. “It’s tough when you lose to say we played better, but I certainly thought we were ready to play at the start. But special teams are a very important part of the game. We’ve just got to continue to work on it, but we’ve got to find solutions. The players know they need to be better on the power play and penalty kill. It has to be better.”
Of the team’s power play, Avs center Matt Duchene said: “I really can’t comment on it, and no one else can either. We’re trying to stick to what we’re trying to do here, but it’s not working for us. We’ve either got to re-evaluate or keep going. I don’t know what to tell you there.”
After Avs goalie Craig Anderson notched another tremendous first period, he was victimized by a couple of defensive breakdowns and a fluky shot from the boards that found a way in.
Islanders defenseman Milan Jurcina scored the first two goals of the game, including a short-hander at 13:06 of the second to break the scoreless deadlock.
The Avs had actually been playing a pretty good second period when Jurcina’s shot beat Anderson. After a sluggish first offensively, they were starting to skate well and keeping play in the Islanders’ end. But in the final seven minutes, New York scored three goals, including Josh Bailey’s power-play goal at 19 minutes, a goal set up by a pretty pass from P.A. Parenteau.
“We were in the game, we were playing well and all of a sudden we’re down 3-0,” said Avs winger TJ Galiardi, who scored a goal to make it 4-2 in the third. “We’ve got to get back to basics on the power play, put pucks on net and get a greasy goal. Just too many penalties, too many mistakes tonight, one by me there on the penalty kill too (on Bailey’s goal). I was just thinking too offensive. Then I look up and they score a big goal.”
The Avs tried to get back into the game in the third, but penalties stalled any momentum that was built. Chris Stewart made it 3-1 with a big, blasting slap-shot score on veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson. But right after the goal, Avs defender Ryan Wilson lost a puck at the blue line, leading to a 2-on-1 that Michael Grabner finished off at 4:12 to make it 4-1.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
