Eurolanche

Colorado Gets Good Response In Toronto

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar could have easily ripped his club and put his players through what would have likely been an excruciating video session after giving up 10 goals the night before. Instead, the Avs refocused and got ready to go back to work.

They had no other choice with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs just few hours later.

Colorado responded from one of the franchise's worst losses by playing an overall sound game and capitalizing on two power plays to defeat Toronto 3-1 on Sunday night at Air Canada Centre.

"I think for me, it just shows that we do have the character," Bednar said. "We're a little inconsistent with it at times and with our work ethic at times, but it shows that we do have strong character guys. That didn't sit well with them last night, nor with me and the rest of the coaches and the whole organization."

Following the 10-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Avalanche had the luxury of only having to dwell on the defeat for one night. The team woke up on Sunday in Canada's largest city ready to move forward.

"We need positive things, you know. Bedsy didn't rip us this morning with video," MacKinnon said. "He easily could have. Maybe if we had a day off today he would have, but we had to play a game tonight, so he took it easy on us. So I think that was big, just kind of try and forget about it."

"We came to the rink, there was still kind of a quiet sense at the rink today, still a little bit embarrassed. Once the puck dropped, we were all ready to go."

Bednar noted it would have been counter intuitive to dig into his players with an extensive video session on the second half of a back-to-back.

"It might have been a different circumstance if we hadn't played today, but getting a response out of our group today and getting focused to go today was the most important thing," Bednar said. "So we challenged them as far as their character and pride and made sure that they were digging in. It doesn't matter what system you play, you have to make sure that you're competing to a level high enough in order to win the game."

The Avs were very business like in their approach against the Maple Leafs. They let the game come to them and took advantage of the opportunities given.

Colorado went 2-for-4 on the power play, netting the first two goals of the contest. Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring with 1:09 left in the opening period and Nathan MacKinnon extended the advantage to 2-0 at 7:27 of the third frame.

"I think we needed to come out with a little piss and vinegar, and I think we did," said captain Gabriel Landeskog." Right off the first hop there at the start of the first period, I think we came out and we won battles, we were strong on pucks."

On the flip side, Toronto's only goal came late in regulation during a 6-on-3 power play with goaltender Antoine Bibeau pulled for the extra attacker. Other than that, the Maple Leafs couldn't generate much offense on their first four man advantages.

While the Leafs did put up 52 shots on goal, that's just more indicative of the type of game they play.

"They throw a lot of things at you," Bednar said. "They've got some good quickness down. They work the back of the net real well, and then they're constantly throwing pucks into the crease and off the goalies pads down low. At times we did a good job of taking care of that puck and collapsing to the front of the net and clearing it; and other times we had a few breakdowns and Varly had to make some saves."

The Avs finished the four-game road trip 2-2-0 after Blake Comeau scored an empty-net goal with 1:11 left to play.

VARLAMOV IN THE ZONE

Semyon Varlamov got the start in net less than 24 hours after splitting time with Calvin Pickard in the loss at Montreal. He looked like a goalie with something to prove.

The netminder made 51 saves against Toronto and was at his best early and late in the contest. Varlamov stopped 21 shots in the opening period and 20 more in the final stanza.

"I saw a couple good shots in the first period, could feel the game," Varlamov said. "When I'm not giving up the first shot, I feel better."

Varlamov was previously scheduled to backup Pickard on Saturday against the Canadiens, but he ended up playing most of the game after entering the outing midway through the first period once the Avs went down 3-0. Pickard returned to the net for the third with Montreal leading 9-1.

"After we lost last night, that was really tough, the worst nightmare, I think last night." Varlamov said. "It was really difficult to fall asleep, but I'm telling you today is a new day. Today was a new game, so we came on the ice today and we played a strong game. I'm proud of this team."

Varlamov was solid when facing close-range shots and didn't allow the Maple Leafs to take advantage of any rebounds.

"He wanted that one bad from last night. He felt like he could do better. He really stepped up tonight, and we needed him to," Landeskog said.

Saves weren't the only thing that Varlamov picked up on the gamesheet. He also assisted on MacKinnon's goal that gave Colorado a 2-0 advantage in the third period.

MACKINNON TALLIES THROUGH THE PAIN

Not even getting a stick to his face could stop Nathan MacKinnon from scoring what would become the game-winning goal against Toronto.

With the Avalanche on the power play, the forward was whacked hard by the lumber of Leo Komarov after receiving a drop pass from Tyson Barrie in the neutral zone. MacKinnon was stunned briefly, but he regained his composure (and the puck), flew past all four Toronto players on the ice and buried a low wrist shot past goalie Antoine Bibeau at 7:27 of the third period.

"Just kind of instincts took over in those situations," MacKinnon said of his goal. "You see guys stepping up, and I like to make moves on them. Just a quick shot, so I guess just my instincts."

MacKinnon's eighth tally of the season gave the Avs a 2-0 lead. His lip was bleeding from the high stick, and Colorado went back on the man advantage for a full four minutes after the score.

--by Ron Knabenbauer for ColoradoAvalanche.com--