Nichushkin scores twice as Avalanche win 2-1 against Flames – Calgary
Valeri Nichushkin scored twice whereas Darcy Keumper stopped 44 pictures because the Colorado Avalanche edged the Calgary Flames 2-1 in a conflict between Western Convention division leaders Tuesday night time.
Colorado (47-14-6) received the season collection 2-1. The Avalanche did so with out Nathan MacKinnon (decrease physique), their captain and main scorer who was harm in a third-period struggle with Minnesota’s Matt Dumba on Sunday.
Nazem Kadri took MacKinnon’s spot on the Avs’ prime line with Nichuskin and Mikko Rantanen.
Tyler Toffoli scored for Calgary (40-18-8), which is 2-2-0 on a six-game homestand that continues Thursday when Los Angeles visits the Saddledome. The Kings are second within the Pacific, seven factors behind the Flames.
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After going winless in his two earlier begins, Kuemper improved to 31-9-3.
Jacob Markstrom (31-13-7) stopped 28 pictures.
With the rating tied 1-1, Colorado capitalized on a tripping penalty to Elias Lindholm midway by means of the third interval. Mikko Rantanen noticed Nichushkin in entrance and despatched an ideal go throughout the slot that Nichushkin steered behind Markstrom.
Colorado’s energy play has been deadly of late. The unit transformed two-of-three possibilities and is 15-of-36 over the Avalanche’s final 12 video games (41.7 per cent).
In the meantime, Calgary’s penalty kill struggled for a second straight recreation. Earlier than then, the Flames had allowed 5 power-play objectives on house ice in 32 video games (a complete of 86 possibilities).
However Calgary has now surrendered 5 power-play objectives in its final two video games.
Calgary has additionally been rolling with the additional man of late, getting into the night time 4-for-12 within the earlier 4 video games. However the Flames may solely convert one-of-six possibilities towards Colorado, together with two alternatives in seven minutes of the third, each on Kadri penalties. The latter got here with 16 seconds remaining.
The Avalanche and Flames energy performs entered motion ranked eighth and fifth, respectively.
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The Flames opened the scoring at 9:31 of the second, capitalizing on a two-man benefit. They secured the 5-on-3 when Nichushkin received his stick into the fingers of Rasmus Andersson 18 seconds into the primary energy play.
The Flames managed possession, however weren’t capable of generate any good possibilities initially. However ultimately Andersson despatched a go throughout that Toffoli one-timed contained in the goalpost from 30 toes out.
Matthew Tkachuk additionally assisted on the objective, giving him 12 factors (4 objectives, eight assists) throughout a five-game level streak.
The lead lasted lower than 5 minutes because the Avalanche responded with a power-play objective of their very own. With Milan Lucic off for interference, Colorado tied it at 13:46 when Cale Makar’s shot deflected in off Nichushkin, who was screening Markstrom.
In a scoreless and largely uneventful first, the perfect possibilities got here from Calgary within the remaining minute by way of the sport’s first energy play. However Kuemper made 4 saves, which included stopping Tkachuk in conjunction with the online.
