Avs Fall To Coyotes At Home

Dec 10, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Coyotes center

(14) and Colorado Avalanche center

(9) battle for control of the puck behind the net in the second period at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche would fall to 20-9-0 on the season as they lost to the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, 3-to-1.Antoine Vermettescored two goals in the win, whileThomas Greissprevented the Avalanche from getting on the board after many chances in the first.

The Avalanche had a lot of scoring chances in the first period against the Phoenix Coyotes, as they kept goaltenderThomas Greissbusy.Nathan MacKinnonwould make a beautiful pass in front of the net to the captainGabriel Landeskogbut Greiss would make a nice save. Later,P.A. Parenteauhad a 2-on-1 chance as he sent it across toMaxime Talbotthat was also stuffed. Colorado had a lot of chances off of the rebound but just couldn’t convert. There were no penalties in the first period as the score remained 0-0 at the end of one, as the Avalanche would out-shoot the Coyotes, 11-9.

Phoenix would start out with a penalty early in the second period, asMichael Stonewould be called for interference onPatrick Bordeleau. Colorado had two good chances on net, asTyson Barrie‘s slap-shot went off the pads of Greiss, andErik Johnson‘s slap-shot rebounded to MacKinnon who couldn’t finish. Later on,Patrick Bordeleauwould lay a big hit onMike Ribeiroand he would stay down, asKyle Chipchurawould jaw withCody McLeod.

Nick Holdenwould be called for interference, setting up the Coyotes on the power-play.Antoine Vermettewould score roughly thirty-seconds into the power-play with his eighth goal of the season, set-up by a nice pass fromKeith Yandle. Phoenix’s fourth-line would score minutes later asJordan Szwarzwould put the puck in the net off of a rebound, assisted byJeff HalpernandPaul Bissonnette.Patrick Bordeleauwould get the Avalanche on the board off of a bizarre goal deflecting off of the back ofThomas Greiss‘s leg pad, as the Coyotes led 2-to-1.

Phoenix answered right back as the Avalanche failed to get the puck out of their own zone.Antoine Vermettewould score his second goal of the game, assisted byOliver Ekman-LarssonandMikkel Boedker, giving the Coyotes the 3-to-1 lead heading into the second intermission.Vermette’s last two-goal game would be in April against none other than the Colorado Avalanche.

Speaking ofAntoine Vermette, he would be called for a penalty to begin the third after being called for hooking. The Avs failed to get the power-play going once again, as they mustered just one shot on net.Matt Duchenewould be called for hooking later on, but would be killed by the Colorado PK unit. The Avalanche would put on some good shifts late but the story of the game was they couldn’t get the puck out of their zone. The Avalanche fell to the Coyotes 3-to-1 as time expired.

GoaltenderThomas Greisswould play lights-out for the Phoenix Coyotes. The Avalanche would’ve had at least three goals in the first period if he didn’t make those stops. He would finish the gave 29-of-30 on save attempts, 96.7% save percentage.

Three-Stars:

3:Keith Yandle(PHX): One assist.

2:Thomas Greiss(PHX): 29 saves, 96.7% save percentage.

1:Antoine Vermette(PHX): Two goals.

What’s Up Next:

The Colorado Avalanche will travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets Thursday night at MTS Centre. Puck-drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM MT.

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