Avs edge Flames, 2-1

In Calgary, the Colorado Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin hit for a pair of power-play goals on Tuesday to lead the Avs to a 2-1 win over the Flames.

“Great win. Gutsy win by our group,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I thought our team was highly committed on the defensive side of things. Power play steps up at the end gets us a big win.”

Colorado improved to 47-14-6, good for 100 points.

“I’m proud of our group to this point of the season,” Bednar said. “I think a heightened since of urgency, commitment, purpose, buy-in from our group. I think it says everything. We’re there for a reason and we’ve got to give the guys all the credit.”

Darcy Kuemper made 44 saves in the Avs win.

“Definitely a credit to the depth of the team,” Kuemper said. “The willingness and ability for guys to step up their game and make up for the guys that are missing. Changing our approach to the game, obviously, really focusing on the defensive side of things tonight with some big offensive weapons missing. Just depth.”

Tyler Toffoli struck for the Flames only goal.

“Five-on-five we were good,” Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. “I think we could have got around the net a little bit more and maybe get a tip or something like that. When you’re playing against a defense like that, you’ve got to have a little bit of courage too.”

The Flames dropped to 40-18-8.

After a scoreless first period, Toffoli put the Flames up, 1-0.

“Power play, we need them to step up,” Bednar said. “It’s going to be tight. That’s how it works down the stretch and into the playoffs. It’s hard to find space and create scoring chances at 5-on-5, and when you get one or two, you’ve got to try to capitalize on them.”

Nichushkin tied it in the middle frame, and won it with his second strike midway through third period.

“It’s 1-1 going into the third, and we take a penalty 200 feet from our goalie,” Sutter said. “That’s the difference in the teams.

“But you can’t give up two and you can’t give up one when it’s 1-1 in the third. With the penalty killing, those are glaring individual mistakes.”

Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves in the loss.

“Five-on-five, I thought we played pretty well first and second, and the third, they came out better than us, gave a push again,” Calgary’s Mikael Backlund said. “Overall, it wasn’t good enough.”