Manson scores 8:02 into OT, Avs beat Blues 3-2 in Game 1
DENVER (AP) — Josh Manson was merely making an attempt to carry his floor close to the blueline with gamers flying at him.
Not on the successful purpose — he was that open — however from the group of teammates charging his manner.
Manson scored his first career playoff goal 8:02 into extra time, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in his return to the web from a watch damage, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Tuesday evening in Recreation 1 of their second-round sequence.
“I used to be simply searching as a result of there’s a variety of guys coming at me with a variety of velocity,” Manson mentioned of the group hug. “It feels good to get that (win) along with your staff.”
The play was arrange by captain Gabriel Landeskog, who was down low and dished the puck out to Manson. From there, the defenseman despatched a liner by way of a sea of gamers that went in simply over the shoulder of Jordan Binnington.
Valeri Nichushkin and Samuel Girard additionally scored for an Avalanche staff that had a weeklong layoff after sweeping Nashville. It confirmed early on, too, earlier than they discovered their stride. They outshot the Blues by a 54-25 margin, together with 13-0 in OT. The Avalanche additionally hit three posts and two crossbars.
“We have been an actual resilient group,” mentioned Landeskog, who had two assists. “We simply harassed simply maintain taking part in, simply maintain taking part in, maintain doing what we have been doing, creating quite a bit and it is only a matter of time. We have been capable of hem them in and (Manson) put it prime shelf.”
Ryan O’Reilly had a first-period purpose and Jordan Kyrou tied it late for St. Louis. Binnington saved the Blues shut with one sprawling save after one other. He stopped 51 pictures to change into the fourth totally different goaltender in Blues historical past to file 50 or extra saves in a postseason recreation, in line with NHL Stats.
“He performed unbelievable, gave us an opportunity to win,” Blues defenseman Colton Parayko mentioned. “They’ve a superb staff. They’re quick. Now we have a superb staff. We’ve been a superb staff all season lengthy. I count on there to be a variety of shut video games.”
Recreation 2 is Thursday.
Kuemper suffered a scary eye mishap in Recreation 3 of the Predators sequence when a stick blade went by way of his masks and caught him round his eyelid. It took just a few days for the swelling to subside.
“Thought he was good,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar mentioned. “He got here up massive when he wanted to.”
Kyrou scored on the facility play to tie the sport with 3:14 remaining. The Blues have been potent on the facility play, going 9 for 27 in the course of the playoffs.
Girard staked Colorado a 2-1 lead midway through the second interval on a shot that went by way of Binnington’s pads. Defenseman Erik Johnson almost scored moments earlier with a wide-open web, however couldn’t get velocity on his shot. Binnington reached out together with his glove whereas on the bottom to cease the rolling puck.
O’Reilly took benefit of Cale Makar’s miscue to attain early within the first interval. O’Reilly has a purpose in 5 straight playoff video games, matching the longest playoff purpose streak in Blues historical past. He tied the mark held by Phil Roberto (1972) and Joe Mullen (1982), in line with NHL Stats.
The Avalanche didn’t look notably sharp within the opening 20 minutes. Artturi Lehkonen hit the submit, whereas Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen had pictures clang off the crossbar.
However Landeskog, who’s coming off late-season knee surgical procedure, refused to purchase into the rust argument.
“We performed a fairly good recreation, to be trustworthy,” Landeskog mentioned.
BLUES STREAK
It was the eighth straight playoff win over the Blues in a streak that dates to Recreation 4 of the 2001 convention finals. The Avalanche swept St. Louis within the playoffs final season.
PLAYING NO FAVORITES
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned he did not fill out a playoff bracket.
“If it turned out to be true, folks could be saying dangerous issues or questioning issues that you haven’t any have to query,” mentioned Bettman, who attended the sport Tuesday. “I’m most likely not an excellent prognosticator.”
LINGERING ANIMOSITY?
Blues defenseman Justin Faulk took successful to the pinnacle from Kadri in Recreation 2 final season and didn’t return in a sequence that Colorado swept. Kadri drew an eight-game suspension for the hit, lacking the ultimate two video games towards the Blues and all six video games towards Vegas as Colorado was ousted.
Requested if issues have been settled, Faulk responded: “We’re right here to play hockey and play a sequence and that’s our focus.”
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
There stay followers who nonetheless present up carrying O’Reilly’s Avalanche sweater. O’Reilly was the thirty third total choose by Colorado in 2009, scoring 90 targets in 427 profession video games with the Avalanche.
“Had a good time right here,” O’Reilly mentioned. “It’s all the time good to see see folks recognize it.”
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