Avalanche end scoring drought, take down Blues

[November 02, 2023]   Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton, Bowen Byram and Artturi Lehkonen also scored, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 in Denver on Wednesday night.
 
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar had two assists each and Ivan Prosvetov turned away 27 shots in his first start with Colorado.

Nov 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) celebrates his goal with left wing Miles Wood (28) in the first period against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Thomas scored and Jordan Binnington made 24 saves for the Blues.

The Avalanche were shut out in their previous two games and went 129 minutes, 24 seconds without a goal before Colton ended the drought. He got the puck at the St. Louis blue line, got a step ahead of defenseman Tyler Tucker and beat Binnington to the far side at 8:53 of the first.

It was his second of the season.

Rantanen made it a 2-0 game later in the period on Colorado's first power-play chance of the night. Makar had the puck at the point and fed Rantanen at the right circle, who roofed a shot by Binnington for his sixth of the season.

The Blues unsuccessfully challenged for a missed stoppage and were given a delay of game minor after the goal was scored.

The Avalanche had a chance to extend the lead in the second when Binnington fanned on a clearing attempt but Miles Wood couldn't get a clean shot on net.

It stayed 2-0 until late in the second period when Kasperi Kapanen brought the puck into Colorado's zone and fed Thomas above the left circle. Thomas stickhandled into the slot and beat Prosvetov with a shot high at 17:49 for his second goal of the season.

The Avalanche got it back early in the third. Rantanen fed Makar in the right circle, Binnington made the save on his shot but the rebound came out front and Lehkonen tapped it in at 1:41. It was his third of the season.

Colorado iced it later in the third period when MacKinnon got the puck near the left circle and sent a pass across to Byram, who one-timed it by Binnington at 7:59. It was his second of the season.

--Field Level Media

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