Avalanche end skid, beat Lightning 2-1

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (2-5-1): Colorado has not gotten much out of newcomers Carl Soderberg (no goals, four assists, minus-5 rating) and Mikhail Grigorenko (one assist) up front along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov (minus-4).

“If you would have told me three games ago that we were only going to give up three regulation goals in the next three games, and you told me we were only going to get one point out of that, I would have said no way, ” Cooper said.

“Through the course of an 82-game season, there are going to be times where goals are harder”. “You have to understand too, there’s a team trying to prevent you from scoring and there’s a goaltender in there that’s a NHL-caliber goaltender”. “But we’ve been through this before, and guys will get over it for sure”. It’s doubly worse when you factor in how well this team has played at home.

Colorado had just one point in its previous four games before scoring the road win against the Lightning, who dropped to 2-2 at home. At the same time, Johnson may very well have just contracted the common cold and could use a few rest and a good bowl of chicken soup to get back in the game. They’re doing everything asked, working their tails off, but it’s only natural to be frustrated. “They are not fun, but you just keep pushing on”.

The Lightning ended a two-game scoring drought with a second-period goal from center Alex Killorn, but still found themselves trailing the Avalanche 2-1 entering the final period.

Roy put the 20-year old MacKinnon on a line with veterans Iginla (38) and Tanguay (35). Alex Killorn would slam the puck home, drawing the Lightning back 2-1. Tanguay’s shot had set up the rebound, giving him his fourth assist to go with Iginla’s assist. In the October 29 game, a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Avs’ went 0-for-6 on the power play. The Lightning allowing only an overtime goal in Chicago and a tipped goal in St. Louis, plus an empty-netter.

“I thought out of the last three games, (Thursday) was our best game chances-wise”, Callahan said. “We had a lot of opportunities, a bunch of two-on-ones, a couple posts, a couple breakaways”. “Sometimes you need to go through a little adversity and learn from that to become better at the end”. It’s frustrating. It’s human nature. Team captain Steven Stamkos has five goals, but none over the last four games.

Tampa Bay had no problem scoring in its first meeting with the Bruins, a 6-3 road victory October 12.

So, with the offense struggling and forwards banged up – Cedric Paquette and Jonathan Drouin are expected to miss tonight’s game, while Tyler Johnson missed Friday’s practice and is questionable – the defensive play has been strong. C Brian Boyle returned to the ice after missing three games with an undisclosed injury…. Avalanche D Brad Stuart didn’t dress due to a back injury, while D Brandon Gormley was a healthy scratch….

This evening Colorado Avalanche will have another shot to get back on track when they face off the Lightning at the Amalie Arena.