Avs edge Penguins, 3-2, on late Toews goal

In Denver, Devon Toews scored the game-winner on Saturday, in the 16th minute of the third period to give the Colorado Avalanche a 3-2 won over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s kind of simple hockey, and I don’t know if he meant to miss the net or not, but it worked out nicely, [with a] perfect bounce off the back of the boards right to me,” Toews said.

Toews scored 27 seconds after the Pens’ Mike Matheson tied the game, 2-2/

Darcy Kuemper. made 36 saves for the Avs win.

“Our guys obviously get up for playing at home, playing in front of our fans, [and] tonight was a perfect example of that,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “The anthem singer was awesome. The crowd was buzzing. The chants were starting before the first puck drop. It’s hard not to get into that, right? … Our fans were as excited about the game as we were.”

The Avs improved to 49-14-16.

Sidney Crosby hit for a goal in the Pens loss.

“I thought it was just a really good hockey game,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “It was a well-played game on both sides. We had a lot of looks. We had a fair amount of chances; we would normally, I think, convert on some of those. But, they played extremely well also. It was a real competitive hockey game. I just thought it was a real good game on both sides.”

Pittsburgh has lost four of their last six.

“We generated some good chances, really quality chances, and unfortunately not enough went in,” Crosby said. “They got a bounce and buried it. We know that they’re a dangerous team. They don’t need much, and that was basically the difference today.”

Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Mikko Rantanen also scored for Colorado.

The Pens dropped to 41-19-10.

“They did everything right,” Bednar said. “They won the wall battle in the [defensive zone]. I think it was [Nico] Sturm that got the chip on it. [Alex Newhook] is slashing across to pick it out, and then ‘Kuby’ coming over for support. So, they do everything right leading into that goal.

“And I think ‘Newy’ bobbled it. I don’t think he meant to drop-pass that, but [when] you’re in the right spots good things happen.”