DENVER – Detroit’s Brad Richards scored with a minute left in regulation to send the Red Wings to a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night.
The Stadium Series game of the NHL season was a back and forth affair with the Avs and Red Wings trading surges before Richards’ late goal.
Semyon Varlamov absorbed the loss on less than stellar night in the Avs’ net.
“I’d be lying if I told you I tried to put it in,” Richards said. “I just kind of chipped it toward the net, he was kind out of position, and I don’t know if it hit his back or something, but we’ll take those.”
Petr Mrazek made 24 saves for Detroit who were looking to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader, and Darren Helm all scored for the Red Wings.
“Playing in altitude is never easy, and guys were coughing a bit and grasping for air at times, but it was fun,” Abdelkader said. “At times guys were just trying to take in the moment, look around, enjoy the scenery because these things don’t happen a lot and they’re special for us and I know the fans too.”
Alex Tanguay, Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie scored for the Avalanche.
“I’m disappointed because we lost, but everything was first-class by the organization,” Colorado coach Patrick Roy said. “They did a super job in every detail. It was a nice experience.”
The wind kicked up in the third period forcing the NHL to schedule a mid-period switch in sides in the third.
“We talked before the game that when you play events like this a lot of things happen and you have to be prepared for weird stuff to happen and you have to stay poised,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I don’t think it really had an effect. There were just a few moments where that happened, but what a great event. I thought it was awesome. I thought the crowd was awesome. I thought it was a great setting. I was real thankful to be a part of it.”
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