|
 "The difference in the game without a doubt was the start and the
performance of our goalie," Colorado coach Patrick Roy said. "Having
such a good start, they had to play catch-up hockey. In this league,
it's very difficult."
In the third period, Varlamov turned away several shots from center
Tyler Seguin, who led the Stars with three points (two goals, one
assist), and another by left winger Erik Cole.
The Avalanche led for the final 15:47 of the game.
"In the last 15 minutes, we might have had five or six chances. He
answered them all," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of Varlamov.
The Avalanche (33-14-5), who finished their road trip with a 2-1-0
record, received the winning goal from left winger Alex Tanguay
early in the third period.
Captain and left winger Gabriel Landeskog contributed two assists
for Colorado.
Tanguay's goal, his fourth of the season, came after his shot from
the left circle deflected in off the left skate of Dallas defenseman
Sergei Gonchar 4:13 into the third period after Dallas went off the
power play. The Stars had gone on the power play at 1:54 after a
holding call on Avalanche defenseman Nate Guenin.
"It wasn't pretty, but those things happen," Tanguay said. "I had
(center Paul Stastny) at the corner of the net. If it doesn't hit
something else, it probably goes in with him. I'll take those
bounces."
Captain and center Jamie Benn (goal, assist) and defenseman Alex
Goligoski (two assists) each had two points for the Stars.
The Avalanche struck early when rookie center Nathan MacKinnon
scored his 18th of the season 1:40 into the game, beating Dallas
goaltender Kari Lehtonen with a backhander. MacKinnon got the puck
after Goligoski was unable to clear the puck and MacKinnon quickly
finished into the left side of the Dallas net.
Colorado took a 2-0 lead at 15:57 of the first when left winger
Jamie McGinn collected his own rebound and scored his 12th of the
season with his own backhander. McGinn's first shot was denied by
Lehtonen, but he skated toward the Dallas net uncontested and
flipped in the carom. Dallas pulled one back 2:33 before the first intermission when Benn
beat Varlamov top shelf from the left circle. After a pass from
Seguin, Benn scored his 20th of the season with a wrister that hit
the back of the visiting net after sailing over Varlamov's glove.
[to top of second column] |
Early in the second period, the Stars tied it 2-2 when Seguin scored
a power-play goal 1:02 into the period. Seguin's low shot from the
left of the Colorado net landed inside the left post after a
cross-ice pass from Benn. It was Seguin's first goal in 12 games.
Seguin's goal came as the Stars were on a 5-on-4 power play after
Colorado defenseman Nick Holden was called for a trip on Seguin 36
seconds into the second period.
Colorado regained the lead for a short time when Stastny scored an
unassisted power-play goal 2:03 before the second intermission.
Stastny beat Lehtonen with a backhander after an attempted clearance
by Benn struck the right post and fell to his skates.
The Avalanche was on the power play after Dallas was called for too
many men on the ice at 16:22.
But that lead would last just 16 seconds as Seguin victimized
Varlamov with a wrister from the right circle with 1:47 remaining in
the second period. Seguin's shot struck Varlamov in his right
shoulder before crossing the line to make it 3-3.
"I was not happy about the third goal," Varlamov said. "I tried to
regroup and get ready for the third period."
Lehtonen left the ice with 1:01 remaining, but the Stars were unable
to force overtime. He stopped 17 shots.
NOTES: Avalanche RW PA Parenteau and D Ryan Wilson were scratched.
Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said after the morning skate that
Parenteau was a healthy scratch because Colorado was playing its
third game in four nights and he recently returned from a 10-game
absence with a knee injury. ... Representatives from five NHL teams
were in the press box for Monday night's game. ... Stars G Kari
Lehtonen was making his eight consecutive start for Dallas. ...
Colorado C Nathan MacKinnon scored his 18th goal of the season early
in the first period and continues to lead all NHL rookies in goals.
... The power-play goal by Dallas C Tyler Seguin early in the second
period was his first since a 6-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on
Jan. 2. ... Dallas has scored at least one power-play goal in eight
straight games. ... Announced attendance was 11,678.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
