FINAL: Colorado Avalanche – 7, Buffalo Sabres – 1
By Andrew Dill
Jan 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) is congratulated for the win by Colorado Avalanche goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere (35) against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche (34-14-5, 75 points) played an impressive game Saturday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. In the first period, Colorado scored three goals as defenseman Tyson Barrie continues to impress. He would score his 7th goal of the year on the assist from rookie Nathan MacKinnon to put the Avalanche up 1-0 just 7:37 into the game.
Jamie McGinn would collect his 13th goal of the season on Mike Weber‘s double-minor for high-sticking Matt Duchene. Erik Johnson and Ryan O’Reilly would pick up the assists to take the 2-0 lead. Gabriel Landeskog would strike in just under a minute later as the captain hit the back of the net for his 15th of the season. Nathan MacKinnon and P.A. Parenteau picked up the points.
Just 4:48 into the second period, Marc-Andre Cliche would collect his first-career NHL goal on the assists from Patrick Bordeleau and Jamie McGinn as Colorado took the 4-0 lead. Buffalo would respond five-minutes later for their only goal of the game as Matt D’Agostini would connect on the power-play for his 3rd of the season to bring it within three.
Nathan MacKinnon continues light it up for the Avalanche as he would shoot one right by Ryan Miller on a nice drop-pass from Erik Johnson for his 20th of the season; goaltender Semyon Varlamov would also record the assist. The Avs would take the 5-1 lead heading into the third period.
Colorado would collect two more goals to close out the game as Gabriel Landeskog scored his second goal of the game for his 16th on the assist from Erik Johnson. Jamie McGinn would also collect his second goal of the season for his 14th on the assists from Ryan O’Reilly and Matt Duchene as Colorado cruised to victory by the final score of 7-1.
Three Stars:
3: Marc-andre Cliche (COL): First career NHL goal.
2: Gabriel Landeskog (COL): 2 goals.
1: Nathan MacKinnon (COL): 1 goal, 2 assists.
The Colorado Avalanche (35-14-5, 75 points) return to action Monday night as they hit the road and take on the New Jersey Devils. Puck-Drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM MT.