Avalanche Fall to Canucks at Home

March 24 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing P.A. Parenteau (15) reacts to the loss to the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center. The Canucks defeated the Avalanche 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Parenteau and Ryan O’Reilly collected two points in the loss, as the Avalanche fought to win, before finally falling short.  “You can say we played a good game, but the bottom line is we didn’t get the two points.” Erik Johnson said in the post game “Our top six [Defense] needs to be better going forward, it’s unacceptable.”

The first period ended in a tie, with both teams scoring once.  Jason Garrison scored on a Power Play early in the game after Shane O’Brien took an interference penalty.  Jamie McGinn, who had been scratched recently by coach Joe Sacco, put the puck past Cory Schneider to tie the game.  Parenteau collected his seventieth assist on the goal, which puts him past elite winger Alexander Ovechkin in points.

In the second period, Mason Raymond scored on a quick snapshot that went top shelf of Colorado’s net.  The Canucks continued their pressure as Alexandre Burrows went on to score on a pretty backhand play that made the score 3-1.  The Canucks outshot the Avalanche 30-28.

In the third period, Colorado was given plenty of chances to tie the game, as the Canucks took four penalties in the final frame of the contest.  The first PP saw little zone time and the Canucks kept the Avalanche out for the majority of play.  In the second PP, the Avalanche were kept at bay once again, forcing Schneider to make few saves.  During the PP. Duchene was unable to keep the puck at the point as a Canuck streaked out of the zone for a breakaway.  However, McGinn backchecked for a perfect pokecheck and was able to break it up.  During the PK, Chris Higgins took a hooking penalty to give the Avalanche a two man advantage.

With the clock running down on the Avs, PA Parenteau threw the puck into the slot, which rebounded around before finally sliding through Schneider’s five hole.  Parenteau collected a goal and assist on his birthday, bringing the Avs within a goal.  Ryan O’Reilly had his second assist of the game and Duchene got a point as well.  Although there was a good flurry towards the end of the game, the Avs were unable to tie the game.  Colorado lost again, and have only won once in their last seven games.

Paul Stastny and Ryan Wilson were both injured in the duration of the game.