Avalanche coach Patrick Roy on 4-3 win over Dallas and Erik Johnson named to the NHL All-Star Game:
The write-thru game story from the Avalanche’s 4-3 comeback victory over Dallas on Saturday at the Pepsi Center is . The first version was filed before I went down to the locker room. It has been replaced by what I collected from the locker room, including the developments about Erik Johnson and Calvin Pickard.
Erik Johnson, whose 12 goals are most among NHL defensemen, will represent the Avalanche at the Jan. 15 NHL All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio:
Pickard has the NHL’s second-highest save percentage of .934 and will try to improve on that Tuesday at Carolina, where he will make his first NHL start since Dec. 27. He’s missed the last seven Avalanche games while playing for Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. Pickard will switch organizational positions with Reto Berra during the next two weeks. Berra will go on a conditioning assignment, which prevents him from having to go through waivers.
Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and five shots (second most behind Duchene’s six):
Noteworthy: The Avs were again outshot (40-30) but won the blocked-shot battle — 26-5. In the last two games, Avs skaters have blocked 51 shots to the opponent’s nine. Puck possession continues to be a problem for Colorado, but blocking shots like this makes up for it. … Johnson blocked a game-high six shots, Nate Guenin five and Brad Stuart four. Only one Dallas player had more than one. … The Avs are 2-0 against Dallas this season and 6-1 since the beginning of last season. … Matt Duchene scored 12 seconds into the third period, the quickest Avs goal to begin a frame this season.
Avs captain Gabe Landeskog:
