SUNRISE, Fla. — The Avalanche snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 7-3 triumph at Florida.
Spoke to Joe Sakic tonight after ' 7-3 win at FLA & updated this story about Tyson Jost and Sam Girard not likely being loaned to Hockey Canada for WJC via
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers)
THREE STARS
- . His super-skilled goal that tied it 2-2 got the Avs going in the decisive point of the game.
- . Third-line left winger had a goal and three points in the third period, including an assist on ‘s even-strength insurance goal.
- . Had 39 saves for the Avs.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Johnson, who leads Colorado in ice time, left the game late in the third period after blocking a shot. An update on his status isn’t yet available.
NEXT UP
Monday, at Pittsburgh, 5 p.m. MT
Avalanche defeats Florida to snap a four-game losing streak via
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers)
Five takeaways:
3:45. Forwards Gabe Landeskog, , Nathan MacKinnon and each logged 3:45 on a scoreless power play. I bring this up because Jost has now replaced Kerfoot as the right winger against the wall on this power-play unit that includes defenseman .
Growing pains. Rookie defenseman Sam Girard was limited to a season-low 9:18 of ice time, lowest among the Avs’ seven defenseman. But don’t expect Girard to be reassigned or loaned to Hockey Canada for the World Junior Championship. Coach Jared Bednar said Girard’s growing pains were an expected part of the plan in his development. … Kerfoot, who is considered Colorado’s second-line center, logged just 11:38, lowest among the 11 forwards.
Nail Yakupov scratched for second consecutive game by
by— Denver Post Sports (@DPostSports)
Big kill. The Avalanche was 5-of-5 in penalty killing, unscathed from Tyson Barrie’s double-minor for high-sticking late in the second period.
Fine line. ‘s line consists of primary penalty killers and they combined for two goals and five points in the third period when Florida was pressing offensively with goalie James Reimer on the bench for an extra attacker. Left winger Matt Nieto assisted on Johnson’s big goal that gave Colorado some breathing room at 4-2.
Dead last. The Avs won just 46 percent of their faceoffs against the Panthers and remain last in the 31-team league with a 43.61 percent success rate on draws for the season.
