VIDEO: Ducks Downed 3-1 By Avalanche

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks faced the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan Miller would go in net against Jonathan Bernier. Andrew Cogliano served his first game of his two-game suspension. J.T. Brown made his Anaheim debut after being claimed off waivers.

First Period

The Avalanche scored first as Matthew Nieto hit the post and the puck barely crossed the goal line for the opening score of the game. There were two power play chances, one for each team, but neither could convert. The score remained 1-0 Colorado after the first period.

Second Period

Ryan Kesler had a great chance that was denied by Bernier and then on the next sequence, Nathan MacKinnon would score to make it 2-0 Avalanche. The Ducks did get one back when Chris Wagner got one past Bernier that just trickled over the goal line. Colorado answered back when Colin Wilson scored on the power play with just 20 seconds to go in the period. Avs led 3-1 after two periods.

Third Period

Both teams had power plays chances in this period but neither scored. Chris Wagner had a breakaway chance after stealing the puck, but he shot the puck wide. The Ducks tried to pull within in one, but Bernier stopped all the shots that came his way.

Analysis

Two moments stick out in this game that led to Colorado winning. The first was when Kesler nearly tied the game, but Bernier stopped the shot with the paddle of his stick. On the next rush Colorado ended up scoring, which was a huge momentum shift because instead of it being a tied game, the Avs had a 2-0 lead. The second moment was at the end of the second period. The Ducks scored to get back into the game, but a late power play goal again gave momentum to Colorado going into the third period leading 3-1. The Ducks took too many penalties is this game giving Colorado six opportunities and not having one of their best penalty killers in Cogliano didn’t help the situation either. The Ducks look to regroup Wednesday at home against the Penguins.

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January 16th, 2018