NEW YORK — A television timeout suddenly and dramatically changed the course of the Avalanche’s future on Sunday night. That is the moment, in the first period, when last wore a Colorado sweater. But the Avs still had a game to play.
In a 6-4 blowout loss to the host , Colorado for the first time explored what it will be like without Duchene, who was .
“We had some alternative things set-up (before the game) in case the trade went down,” Colorado coach said. “I like how we responded on the ice. They earned some breaks. They got some bounces, tough breaks.”
The Avs scored two late goals long after the game was decided, with Alexander Kerfoot sneaking in two scores in the final 30 seconds, but on the second night of back-to-back games, the Avs folded.
Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy scored twice early in the second period to extend their lead to 4-1, minutes after the Avs learned Duchene had been traded. Jonathan Bernier, the Avs’ backup goaltender, faced just 28 shots, but never grabbed hold of a game.
Bernier’s team trailed 1-0 just four minutes into the game after New York defenseman Scott Mayfield waltzed toward the goal line. As Colorado’s Sven Andrighetto tried to poke check the puck away, he instead knocked it into the net.
Eight minutes later, New York’s Mathew Barzal muscled between two Avs defenders, and , then centered a pass to Jordan Eberle, who easily netted a goal for a 2-0 lead.
and also scored for Colorado. The Avs (8-6-0) saw a three-game winning streak snapped before boarding a late flight to Sweden, where they will practice for four days before facing Ottawa on Friday and Saturday. It is Avs’ the third lengthy layoff between games in the past month.
