Postgame Notes & Quotes 6, 3 Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The Avalanche/Nordiques franchise now owns a 26-8-4 all-time record in home openers (.737). Colorado is 14-5-3 in home openers since moving to Denver in 1995, which includes a 12-4-2 mark at Pepsi Center.

The victory gives Colorado a sweep over Boston in the two-game season series, outscoring the Bruins by a combined score of 10-3.

The Avalanche’s 23 shots against is the fewest the team has allowed this season. Colorado’s four shots allowed in the first period is a season low, while its five shots surrendered in the middle stanza ranks second.

With tonight’s win, the Avalanche improves to 3-1-0 on the season and sits in third place in the Central Division.

With his 29th career game-winning , Matt Duchene surpassed Alex Tanguay for sole possession of seventh place in franchise history.

Alexander Kerfoot scored his first NHL goal.

Nail Yakupov (3g, 1a) and Sven Andrighetto (3g, 1a) each combined for four points in the two-game series against Boston. Yakupov finished with a plus-five rating in the two matchups, while Andrighetto was plus-3 in the season series against Boston.

Duchene and Yakupov each notched a goal and an assist on the night and are now tied for the team lead with five points. It was the second multipoint game of the season for both Duchene (1g, 1a at NYR, Oct. 5) and Yakupov (2g at BOS, Oct. 9).

With two assists, Nathan MacKinnon now leads the Avalanche with four helpers.

Andrighetto recorded his second straight multi- game (1g, 1a at BOS, Oct. 9) and the third multi-goal game of his career.

With Brad Marchand’s first-period marker, the Avalanche surrendered an even- strength goal for the first time this season, the last team in the NHL to do so. Colorado went 197:06 without allowing a tally at 5-on-5.

The last time the Avalanche scored two empty-net goals was March 2, 2014 vs. Tampa Bay (Holden, Stastny).

Colorado C Matt Duchene On The Team’s Performance: “It wasn’t as much as what we were doing defensively, we were on the gas, we were on the pedal. Good offense and good defense too. I think that was the key to the first two periods.”

On Getting The Win: “I liked that we finished the job. Yeah, they are going to push like that at the end, we would too. So, they get two goals on a power play. One was right at the end. Obviously, one was on the power play and other than that, there wasn’t many blemishes to our game.”

Colorado RW Nail Yakupov On Playing With Colorado C Matt Duchene: “It’s great, I like it and I think as a line, we are enjoying playing with each other. You know, we are always talking. Dutchy (Colorado C Matt Duchene) is a good player. He’s been here in the league for a while. He’s a really good skilled player. He has the speed so we just have to use each other and trust each other and create some chances so I think it’s working well right now.”

On His Goal: “I just came back for support because we have to get the puck back in the defensive zone first and I think all five guys [were] on the right side and yeah, I had a chance to go on a 2-on-1 with Nate (Colorado C Nathan MacKinnon). I know he can give any pass so I was just ready for a shot. He made a really good pass so I just put it in.”

Colorado C Alexander Kerfoot On The Feeling Of Scoring His First NHL Goal: “Yeah it’s pretty special, especially the home opener at Pepsi Center, you get the win like that too. [It was] just a great opening night for the team.”

On His Goal: “It was just a great play by Dutchy (Colorado C Matt Duchene) getting into the zone, holding it up and then giving it back to Tys (Colorado D Tyson Barrie). I just drove to the net and it was lucky that it banked off me. But yeah, it was a great play by them.”

Boston G Tuukka Rask On Boston’s Performance: “We didn’t really get anything going I guess. We just woke up a little too late there in the third period when it was 4-1. So, tough, very tough game.”

On Tonight’s Game: “Sometimes, mishandles happen and things happen very quickly. I think [tonight], the middle of the ice was wide open for the most part, they came with speed. We just didn’t get the pucks deep. When you give up a lot of odd-man rushes, it becomes a challenge for everyone, you know, physically to keep up with that.”

Boston D Zdeno Chara On Boston’s Performance: “Not a very good game obviously. We were not strong on the puck, with the puck, under the puck.”

On Fixing The Mistakes: “We have to go and play better. It’s up to us to make sure that we fix it.”