In Denver, the visiting Vegas Golden Knights reverted to their funk on Wednesday night in a 3-0 shutout loss to the Avalanche.
Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves in shutout win.
“I just think that the last couple of games, our commitment to check and play the right way has been really good,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “This is exactly how I want our team to be. I don’t want us like giving up a lot of chances, and when we have a big breakdown, we need our goalie to make a save. It’s the difference between winning and losing, and tonight [Georgiev] was perfect in that regard.
Valeri Nichushkin hit for a double, scoring once in the opening stanza and once in the middle frame.
The Avalanche moved to 27-12-3.
Nichushkin scored his first of the game, off the power play, with 14 seconds left on the clock in the first period for a 1-0 lead headed to the middle frame..
In the second period, Nichushkin collected his double at 11:44, also off the power play, for a 2-0 advantage to the Avs. of the second period, converting another Rantanen pass from the top of the crease.
“That five-man unit right now, I mean they’re clicking pretty good,” The Avs’ Logan O’Connor said. “It’s insane. Unfortunately, we have to go up against them every morning skate, and sometimes it can be pretty difficult, but it makes us better at the same time.”
The Knights (dropped to 3-13-5 off their eighth loss in 11 games.
“This time of the year, you’ve got to find way to score goals in every possible way,” Vegas’ Alex Pietrangelo said. “I think we’ve got to, as a group collectively, find a way to score more goals in front of the net. Hard to win when you don’t score.
“I know they had the two power-play goals. We didn’t [get] one on the power play. Special teams kind of let us down.”
Vegas was scoreless in four power play chances.
O’Connor scored midway through the third period for the 3-0 final count on the scoreboard.
Use CodePHN15 Georgiev earns the PHN chair of the day for his shutout over Vegas
Jiri Patera made 32 saves in the loss.
“Not good enough, obviously, to beat a very good hockey club. Didn’t think we were on our toes,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Had pockets of some good hockey, but not good enough. Special teams are a problem again; got outplayed on those.
“I liked Patera’s game. Got kind of thrown in at the last minute [and] did a great job for us. Gave us a chance to win.
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