In Denver, Tyson Barrie returned to Colorado for the first time since being traded by the Avalanche to the Toronto Maple Leafs in July.
Barrie had a goal and two points in the Leafs 5-3 win over the Avs on Saturday night; received a standing ovation from the Colorado fans.
“I wasn’t sure how it was going to feel coming back here, and it’s been an amazing place to call home the last eight years, and that really topped it off,” Barrie said. “It’ll always be special to me, and these fans are great.”
Frederik Andersen made 34 saves in the win.
The Avs took an early 1-0 lead in the first period after Nathan MacKinnon scored. The Leafs rallied for four goals in the first period.
Auston Matthews and Kasperi Kapanen scored in the first period.
“I think the first period was a bit of a write-off, we didn’t show up,” the Avs’ Nazim Kadri said. “We just dug ourselves in a hole, and it was too much to climb out of. Second and third periods, we were definitely the better team, but the first period hurt us.”
Andre Burakovsky and Valeri Nichushkin scored to cut the deficit to 4-3.
“The third period, we were working hard, we were battling, we were winning pucks,” Burakovsky said. “That’s the way we have to start the game and finish the game. We have to go 60 minutes and do that job. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t get one at the end.”
Zach Hyman added an empty net with less than a second leftr on the clock.
[WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Avalanche highlights]
Philipp Grubauer got the start for the Avs and surrendered four goals while making 11 saves; he was given the hook in the first intermission.
“In the second period, we came out firing on all cylinders, but we have to have more urgency in the way we defend,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said.”We just followed them around the ice (in the first period) and let them do what they want. They’re too skilled for that.”
Pavel Francouz made 12 saves over the final 40 minutes.
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