Postgame Notes & Quotes Flames 3, 2 Saturday, November 25, 2017

Flames made 24 saves to earn his first NHL win in his first NHL start.

Calgary’s win snapped a streak of six consecutive home games with a point for the Avs, who have now lost just twice at Pepsi Center this season.

Mikko Rantanen notched his team-leading sixth power-play of the season, which is tied for fifth in the league. It’s also the most power-play goals by an Avalanche player since the 2015-16 season.

Nikita Zadorov registered a career-high six blocked shots.

With the assist on Rantanen’s second-period tally, Nathan MacKinnon notched his team-leading 19th assist of the season and now has nine points (1g, 8a) in his last three outings at home.

The Avalanche finished 1-for-3 on the power play and is now 11-for-39 with the man advantage on home ice, the fourth-best home power play in the league.

Saturday’s contest wrapped up the sixth back-to-back set of the season for Colorado. The Avs are 2-2-2 in the first contest of back-to-back sets and 2-4-0 in the second.

Calgary’s two tallies just 22 seconds apart at the end of the second period are the fastest two goals the Avs have allowed this season.

Mikael Backlund registered his 100th NHL goal.

Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen On Tonight’s Game: “It was a tough game. We didn’t have the start we usually have at home. Usually at home, we outwork them and outskate them in the first and get the first goal, but not [tonight].”

On Playing Against Calgary: “They have a good team. They have good four lines, everybody can score, especially their top line is very good. [They are] good in the O- zone and pretty good defensively, they have a good D, so it’s a good team but I think it was our own fault we didn’t get the win [tonight].”

Colorado C Dominic Toninato On The Avs’ Performance: “We obviously wanted to keep playing well but we came out a little sluggish, gave them a lead there and obviously that’s not what you want to do but you got to like the fight we had. We obviously didn’t give up and kept pushing at the end.”

On Calgary Scoring Two Goals At The End Of The Second Period: “We just had to put that behind us and have a good start to the third. We had to throw everything we had at them and leave it all out there. I think the guys did a good job of fighting all the way to the end.”

Calgary G David Rittich On His Performance: “Two screen goals, sometimes that happens but we won. I think I should be better with the screen. I allowed two goals so I should try and find a block.”

On The Win: “I think it was a good game. The guys played very well and they helped me only allowing 26 shots or something like that so it wasn’t too much. I felt great.”

Calgary D On The Win: “It’s never easy back-to-back with the travel. This is a team that’s probably as good on the rush as we have seen this season. I don’t know how many guys can skate 100 miles per hour over there. I thought we did a pretty good job limiting their opportunities off the rush as a group. I feel like we were clearing a lot of pucks out of the zone. He (Calgary G David Rittich) was making all the big saves and we were able to battle through and help him out.”

On Their Performance: “I think our composure as the game went on, certainly an area last game in Dallas that wasn’t our strongest. I think tonight we really finished off hard. They did get that one at the end but you can’t really find that much wrong on that play. Finished off a pretty good road trip and now headed back home to begin a homestand.”