Matt Duchene Collects Goal Number 100 On His Career As The Colorado Avalanche Defeat The New York Islanders 5-2

Feb 8, 2014; Uniondale, NY, USA; The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a goal by Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) against the New York Islanders during the second period of a game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Duchene Collects Goal #100 In Win Vs. Islanders

The Colorado Avalanche (37-16-5, 79 points) collected a win right before the Winter Olympic Break as they defeated the New York Islanders by the final score of 4-2. Nathan MacKinnon would get the scoring going right away for the Avalanche as the rookie scored his team-leading 22nd goal of the season on the assist from Gabriel Landeskog and Nick Holden to go up 1-0.

Matt Duchene had a chance to score at the end of the first period but the buzzer went off right when he closed in. He would get a chance at revenge in the second period as his shot on Evgeni Nabokov snuck right under his pad as Dutchy snapped his goal drought for his 100th career goal and 18th of the season. Tyson Barrie and P.A. Parenteau would pick up the assists to go up 2-0.

Less than three minutes later, Duchene would be at it again as Team Canada has to be impressed with the center heading into the Olympics. He would go top-shelf on a nearly impossible shot for his 19th goal of the season.  Jamie McGinn and Tyson Barrie picked up the helpers as the Colorado Avalanche took the commanding 3-0 lead.

Things got interesting in the third period however as Maxime Talbot would get called for Delaying Game-Face-Off Violation. John Tavares would connect on the power-play goal for his 24th goal of the season as teammates Josh Bailey and Lubomir Visnovsky would pick up the points as the Isles trailed 3-1. Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson would pick up a slashing penalty as New York quickly capitalized. Lubormir Visnovsky would pick up the power-play goal for his 2nd goal of the season to bring the lead to within one.

The Islanders would pull their goaltender late in the third period trying to get an extra-attacker to tie the game up. Gabriel Landeskog would end their hopes on an empty-net attempt for his 18th goal of the season as Andre Benoit picked up the point. Paul Stastny would be awarded with the fifth goal of the game on the assist from Tyson Barrie as the Avalanche head into the Olympic Break with a win under their belt.

Three Stars:

3: John Tavares (NYI): 1 goal.
2: Nathan MacKinnon (COL): 1 goal.
1: Matt Duchene (COL): 2 goals, 100th & 101st career goal.

The Colorado Avalanche (37-16-5, 79 points) head into the Olympic Break with an impressive win over the New York Islanders. They will be back in action February 26th at home against the Los Angeles Kings.