Colorado Avalanche Drop Last Regular Season Home Game To The Pittsburgh Penguins Via Shootout, 3-2

Apr 6, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) scores the game winning goal against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) in a shootout at Pepsi Center. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche (50-21-7, 107 points) suffered a thrilling, shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night who were without Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Brooks Orpik. Jussi Jokinen would be the shootout hero for the Penguins as he scored the lone goal for either team. He would skate across the front of the crease where Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov went down into his butterfly stance as Jokinen shot it top shelf out of his reach for the 3-2 victory.

The Penguins would get a solid performance out of Brandon Sutter as he would score the first goal of the game at the 3:46 mark in the second period. That goal would be his 12th of the year on the assists from Tanner Glass and Matt Niskanen. Less than four minutes later, Sutter would strike again on the power-play that was called on Colorado’s defenseman Andre Benoit for high-sticking. Sutter collected his second goal of the game for his 13th of the season with Jussi Jokinen and James Neal picking up the helpers.

Colorado would have an answer as always. Just 18 seconds into the third period, Jamie McGinn would make a slick spin-pass to Ryan O’Reilly who was in front of the net for the quick goal. O’Reilly collected goal number 28 on the season as McGinn and John Mitchell picked up the points. Later in the third period with about four minutes left, Tyson Barrie would take a shot from under the blue line that Patrick Bordeleau would manage to get his stick on. He would tip it in for his 5th goal of the season on the assists from Barrie and Nick Holden, tying the game up at two.

The teams would head to overtime where the action picked up at the 4:22 mark where Paul Martin of the Penguins was called for a delay of game penalty. Colorado would get some good opportunities but couldn’t convert as a shootout loomed.  Jussi Jokinen (as noted above) would score the lone goal in the shootout, shooting it top shelf out of the reach of Varlamov for the game-winner as the Penguins picked up a full two points.

Three Stars:

3: Brandon Sutter (PIT): Two goals.
2: Semyon Varlamov (COL): 30-of-32 save attempts, .938% save percentage.
1: Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT): 39-of-41 save attempts, .951% save percentage.

The Colorado Avalanche (50-21-7, 107 points) return to action Tuesday night on the road where they will take on the Edmonton Oilers. Puck-drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET, 7:30 PM MT.