In Toronto, the Colorado Avalanche rebounded from a drubbing at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens Saturday to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-1.
Semyon Varlamov made an astonishing 51 saves in the win.
Semyon Varlamov – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“Confidence, you know,” Varlamov said when asked how he turned his performance around. “When you are a little bit struggling, it’s hard sometimes to find that confidence. The team gave me confidence today when we scored the first goal.”
It was a rebound effort for the Avs after the drubbing on Saturday.
“I like the response we got from our team. Guys competed hard and they were focused,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “It wasn’t easy out there, that’s for sure, but we got a big night from Varly, and we found a way to get the job done and get a win.”
Despite being outshot 21-8 in the opening period, the Avs took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Mikko Rantanen.
Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avs with less than eight minutes gone in the third period to give Colorado a 2-0 lead.
MacKinnon scored after being high-sticked in center ice as he was gathering up the puck. He continued with the rush and scored a nifty wrister.
Toronto started rookie Antoine Bibeauin net who made 26 saves in the loss.
With the Avs assessed two penalties late in the third, the Leafs pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker and a 6-on-3 situation.
Jake Gardiner scored to make the score 2-1.
Blake Comeau sealed it for the Avs with empty-netter.
“I was feeling really comfortable,” Bibeau said. “I thought I would be more nervous. I think I was well-prepared for that game, I had a good week of practice. The boys made me feel comfortable in the room, and I felt really good once the game got going.”
Colorado improved to 11-15-1 while the Leafs fell to 11-11-5.
“My big thing for me, I just felt comfortable. I wasn’t in panic mode when [Antoine Bibeau] was in the net, and neither were the players,” Toronto head  coach Mike Babcock on Bibeau’s efforts.
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