Postgame Notes & Quotes Colorado Avalanche 3, New Jersey Devils 2 Thursday, March 9, 2017
Thursday’s game wrapped up the season series between the Avalanche and the Devils. Colorado finished 1-1-0 against New Jersey in 2016-17 and is 10-1-1 in its last 12 matchups against New Jersey. The Avs have won their last six home games against the Devils.
Calvin Pickard registered his third career assist (Feb. 7, 2017 vs. Montreal, March 3, 2016 vs. Florida) and his second of the season. He’s now tied for the league lead in points among goaltenders (Matt Murray, Al Montoya, Tuukka Rask, Andrei Vasilevskiy). All three of Pickard’s helpers have come on home ice.
Francois Beauchemin scored his first game-winning goal of the season and the 14th of his career.
Nathan MacKinnon has recorded a goal in two consecutive games. He now has 14 markers and a team-leading 44 points on the season.
With the primary assist on MacKinnon’s first-period tally, Tyson Barrie has totaled four points in his last two outings.
Sven Andrighetto, playing in just his third contest in an Avalanche sweater, has registered an assist in two consecutive games.
Rene Bourque notched his 11th goal of the season, his highest total since the 2011-12 season with Calgary and Montreal (18). He now has three points (two goals, one assist) in seven games since returning from an injury.
Colorado’s two penalty minutes in tonight’s game is tied for the fewest penalty minutes in a game this season (4x: Feb. 21 vs. Los Angeles, Jan. 31 at Anaheim, Nov. 21 at Columbus).
With a goal in tonight’s game, Taylor Hall now has 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in his last 12 outings against the Avalanche.
Colorado D Francois Beauchemin On Tonight’s Game: “Obviously, it’s a really good feeling. I thought we had a really good first period. We came out, had a couple power-play opportunities where we had some good looks, some good shots and then after that, second and third were a little more difficult. They put a lot of pressure on us, and we didn’t generate much offensively, but defensively I thought Picks [Colorado G Calvin Pickard] made some big saves. After that, third period they came out, scored two quick ones. We were able to put that one in at the end. It’s always a good feeling.”
On His Game-Winning Goal: “Yeah, there was a couple guys in front battling for a screen and like you said the rebound came right back, right at me around the faceoff circle, and was able to put it through. It was a good feeling.”
Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen On Tonight’s Game: “I think you can see these two games how we play as a team. We defend hard, and we work hard every game. We played a good 60 minutes both games, so that’s how you win games.”
On What It Takes to Win: “We have to keep playing like this, that’s the key to the win. We haven’t done it too much this year, so we have to give our fans two wins in a row at home, so that’s a big thing for them too.”
Colorado G Calvin Pickard On Tonight’s Win: “Yeah, it’s nice. I was in doubt there a little bit. They were pushing pretty hard, taking it to us and to get that late goal, it was nice. You know, back-to-back efforts is a big thing for us right now.”
On Bouncing Back After Winnipeg: “Yeah, I mean, it was a bit of a [shellacking] in there in Winnipeg. We came back against St. Louis, didn’t have our best game, but we started from scratch early this week. You know, Carolina coming in, we played a great game a full 60 minutes. Tonight, we played a pretty solid game. They took it to us, you have to give them the credit. They played hard, but to get back-to-back wins on home ice, it’s definitely a good step for us.
New Jersey LW Taylor Hall On The First Period: “I think our first period really set us back and it made it difficult for us to gain momentum, but eventually we did and it’s just a tough loss.”
On Tonight’s Game: “Yeah, we are just trying to attack the net, and make sure that we aren’t one-and-done in the offensive zone. Beauch (Colorado D Francois Beauchemin) showed how dynamic he can be with the puck and we need more of that. We need more plays from all of our lineup. We can’t be afraid to be skillful and I like seeing that maybe from our second or third lines. Like I said it was a tough loss but with some good things like there has been lately.”
New Jersey G Cory Schneider On Tonight’s Game: “We have to win, we can’t keep losing. Whether it’s tonight or next week, it has to happen. We have to find a way and maybe some people should step up like myself and steal a game, win a game we shouldn’t or win a game we should, so again we have no choice.”
On Moving Forward: “You win, you win a game. Like I said, whether it’s an individual effort, special team’s game or something where you find a way to win and people step up and your best players are your best players. Again, I’m fully accounting myself in that and I know I can be better to get us out of this and win us a game, and it just has to happen.”