The Colorado Avalanche finally got the kind of explosive first period you’ve been dreaming about after a season of first-period problems, especially while playing a team that played the night before at home. With two goals from Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche jumped out to a 3-0 lead and, as the first period drew on, Ball Arena was rocking.
The Avs were controlling the scoreboard and playing in front of a goalie who had been outstanding for them, even though they were outshot and perhaps outplayed.
The game went to 3-1 late in the game when a shot from Viktor Arvidsson just inside the blueline was deflected off Josh Manson’s stick. You knew Edmonton wouldn’t simply roll over and be done with it since they have been the NHL’s hottest team for the past six weeks. The goal sparked the Oilers’ steady and methodical comeback, which culminated in a 4-3 victory as they left Denver.
Blackwood has been everything the Avalanche could have wanted for in his 12 appearances (11 starts) with the Avs. He simply wasn’t going to keep playing with a.940 save percentage and less than two goals against average, so we knew there would eventually be a regression.
Arvidsson’s objective was the first step in that decline. It is difficult to hold someone accountable for that one in a society where everyone is held accountable for every aim that is thwarted. Although the shot wasn’t very hazardous and Manson was in a good position, Blackwood couldn’t react in time since it took the right angle off his stick.The Avs were being completely destroyed in the second period as a result of the Oilers’ constant pressure. Despite Blackwood’s best efforts, the Avs were unable to get the puck out of their zone, and after over two minutes inside their own zone, Brett Kulak scored from the point following Joel Kiviranta’s attempted clear.
Since the puck should have been out of the zone and the Avs skaters were heading straight for the bench, Corey Perry’s unobstructed screen in front of Blackwood prevented him from seeing the puck. Blackwood did not react when the puck remained in and never saw it leave Kulak’s stick. He had not permitted that since arriving in Colorado, and it is a terrible goal.
In the third goal, Connor McDavid grabbed a puck out of the air and got a clear look on the backdoor after Colorado was finally worn down by constant zone time. It was deadlocked, and the game had changed from a lively crowd enjoying life to one that was stressed out by the pendulum swinging sharply back against them.
Colorado lost a more competitive third period when Evan Bouchard scored the game-winning goal for the Oilers with a slap shot. The Avalanche lost a game they should have won, and there was none of the magic of the comebacks against Buffalo (twice) and the New York Rangers two nights prior.
Colorado’s offense simply couldn’t get it going again, and Blackwood had his worst performance as an Av, giving up more than two goals for the first time.