Avalanche Vs. Blues Recap: Remyon Varlamov's 41 Saves Not Enough, Avalanche Loses 2-3 In OT

The Colorado Avalanche (28-25-4, 60 points) could not stop the overwhelming offensive attack from St. Louis Blues (33-14-7, 73 points), falling 2-3 in overtime.

In the first period, the Avalanche and Blues started on all cylinders, scoring four quick goals to create a 2-2 tie. But the second period brought a sudden halt to the scoring as both teams put up zeros. However, the Blues, led by D Kevin Shattenkirk (5 shots on goal), began piling on shots against Avalanche Goalie Semyon Varlamov.

Varlamov finished the night with 41 saves, but the Colorado offense managed only 19 shots on goal, eventually falling victim to a D Carlo Colaiacovo tip-in to fall 3-2 in overtime. The disparity between shots on goal proved particularly troublesome, especially when seen with ESPN's shot tracker:

The Avalanche will be back in action on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blues blog St Louis Game Time.

Avalanche Vs. Blues Score Update: Game Tied 2-2 Heading Into Final Period

The Colorado Avalanche start the third and final period locked with the St. Louis Blues at 2-2.

The Blues have led the Avalanche statistically most of the game in nearly everything but goals, blasting 24 shots on goal to the Avalanche's 14 SOG, and have played more touch more physically than Colorado, landing 21 hits to the Avalanche's 20. The key may finally turn in the Blues' favor in the final statistic of significance as the Avalanche lead the Blues in one crucial area: penalties in minutes, as the Avalanche have earned 8 minutes to the Blues' 4.

Despite not being a typically strong power play team, the Blues have already converted two power plays into goals in Saturday night's contest and no doubt will look to take advantage of uncommonly sloppy play from an Avalanche team that entered the game with the third least power plays allowed at 164.

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blues blog St Louis Game Time.

Avalanche Vs. Blues Score Update: O'Brien, Johnson Score, Tie Game at 2-2

The Colorado Avalanche are hanging close to the St. Louis Blues, but the St. Louis power play attack has proven too tenacious for the Colorado defense early.

Colorado took the lead 1-0 first when D Shane O'Brien blasted a 60-foot slapshot past G Brian Elliott, but the Blues quickly got back into the game when a C Jay McClement holding penalty gave LW David Perron his first power play goal of the game.

As the period drew to a close, RW Chuck Kobasew drew a tripping call, giving the Blues -- who entered the game with one of the league's worst power play conversion rates at 13% -- another David Perron goal and a 2-1 St. Louis lead.

Fortunately for the Avalanche, C Scott Nichol drew an interference call on O'Reilly late in the first period, opening up the team's first power play opportunity of the game, which D Erik Johnson quickly converted into a 65-foot slapshot goal.

The Avalanche and Blue remained tied in the second period as Colorado looks to stretch their win-streak to three games.

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blues blog St Louis Game Time.

Avalanche Vs. Blues: Colorado Faces Tough Road Challenge In St. Louis

Don't look now, but the Colorado Avalanche may have some momentum this spring.after all. After a tough overtime loss against Vancouver last weekend, the Avalanche used a strong third period to manhandle the Chicago Blackhawks. A resilient effort from budding star Ryan O'Reilly on Friday night helped Colorado overcome three one-goal deficits en route to a dramatic overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In complete contrast to last February's free fall in the standings, Colorado has earned five of six possible points over the last week heading into Saturday night's vital matchup against the St. Louis Blues. All six of Colorado's top forwards are starting to heat up. Peter Mueller has seven points in the nine games since returning from injury; Paul Stastny has been electric, scoring at more than a point per game pace the past three weeks; David Jones has six points in the past three games; Gabriel Landeskog has scored critical goals in the past two games. With the continued absence of Matt Duchene, the Avalanche's top players are finally starting to produce.

The Blues are the league's best home team with a 22-3-4 record this season, and boast the league's hottest goaltending tandem in Jaroslav Halak and former Avalanche netminder Brian Elliott (who leads the entire league with a sparkling 1.62 GAA and .940 SV%). While the offense continues to be a major concern for St. Louis (they rank 25th in the league in total goals), the defense and goaltending are both championship caliber this season.

Semyon Varlamov will get the start in net for Colorado, giving Jean-Sebastien Giguere a break. Varlamov has been incredibly inconsistent this season -- and has struggled lately -- but gets the opportunity to break out of his slump against a below average offensive team.

Puck drops at 6:00 p.m. MDT.

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blues blog St Louis Game Time.

Avalanche Vs. Hurricanes: Avs Come Back For Overtime Victory

It's hard to score much later than with two seconds left in overtime, but that's a feat that the Colorado Avalanche achieved on Friday night in their 4-3 comeback victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The game winning goal came from Ryan O'Reilly, who lit the lamp for the 15th time this season, though it's doubtful that any have been as dramatic.

O'Reilly's goal came on the heels of a scoreless third period, which itself followed two periods that saw six combined goals. The night's scoring was started off by Carolina's Tim Brent, who netted his eighth goal of the season thanks to assists from Anthony Stewart and Chad LaRose. That Avs got on the board with less than a minute to play on Gabriel Landeskog's 13th goal of the season, but the Hurricanes regained the lead 31 seconds later when Jiri Tlusty scored his 12th of the season.

In the second, Milan Hejduk brought the Avs back even with Carolina on his 13th of the season, but the Hurricanes would once again regain the lead on Eric Staal's 14th goal of the season. The final goal in regulation would come with exactly a minute to play in the second on Paul Stastny's 14th goal of the season.

The Avs will be back on the ice tomorrow night when they go on the road to face the St. Louis Blues.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more from around the league, check out SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Avalanche Vs. Hurricanes Score Update: Avs Even Game At 3 Heading Into Final Period

Avalanche Vs. Hurricanes Score Update: Carolina Up 2-1 After One

The Carolina Hurricanes scored a goal with less than 30 seconds to go in the first period to get back on top of the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 as the teams headed into the first intermission. Carolina led for a good portion of the period before Gabriel Landeskog put the tied the game at one with his 13th goal of the season with just 54 seconds left to go in the period.

Avalanche Vs. Hurricanes: Colorado Ends Homestand With Game Against Carolina

After soundly defeating the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week, the Colorado Avalanche are looking to end their four game homestand with a win against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Carolina is going through a dismal season, and will likely get a top three pick in June's Amateur Draft -- their highest selection since drafting defenseman Jack Johnson third overall in 2005 (Johnson was traded to Los Angeles a year later). Star Eric Staal is having an uncharacteristic season for the Canes, only scoring 13 goals on the season; Staal scored 33 goals last year. Reigning Rookie of the Year Jeff Skinner is having another solid season with 15 goals and 29 total points, but the team as a whole is missing the dynamic play of Staal and the offensive impact he brings to the club. Goalie Cam Ward continues to be one of the underrated players in the game, and has played in 48 games so far this year for Carolina, posting a solid .913 SV%.

For Colorado, Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get the start in net. Giguere has absolutely taken the starting role from Semyon Varlamov, and has played in eight of the last 10 games for Colorado with superb results. Offensively, Peter Mueller has returned and is making his presence felt. With five goals in the nine games since returning from injury, Mueller has helped fill the talent gap caused by Matt Duchene's knee injury suffered in late December. Despite their inconsistent play the past month, Colorado finds themselves still only three points out of the last playoff spot. A win against an underperforming Carolina team would make that goal more attainable.

Puck drops at 7:00 p.m. MDT

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Hurricanes blog Canes Country.

Avalanche Vs. Blackhawks Final Score: Avs Score Three In The Third, Win 5-2

It only took :38 seconds for the Chicago Blackhawks to realize the Colorado Avalanche weren't messing around in the third period on Tuesday at the Pepsi Center. Gabriel Landeskog beat Ray Emery for his 12th score of the year to kick-start an explosive period for the home team as the Avalanche defeated the Blackhawks 5-2. The win moves Colorado to 26-25-3, while the 'Hawks drop to 29-17-7.

David Jones tallied his 12th goal of the year off an assist from Paul Stastny to push the lead to 4-2 halfway through the third period. With two minutes left in the game, Kyle Quincey got his fifth goal of the season on an empty net to push the score to 5-2.

Chicago out-shot Colorado in the game 31-29. The Avalanche held slight advantages in hits (20-14) and faceoff wins (32-26).

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more from around the league, check out SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Avalanche Vs. Blackhawks Score Update: Avs And 'Hawks Head Into Final Period Tied At Two

A scoreless first period gave way to an action-packed second period at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday, one that ends with the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche tied at 2-2.The Avalanche head into the third period looking to break their five game losing streak.

The Blackhawks were the first to get on the board when Brent Seabrook scored his fifth goal of the season off assists from teammates Viktor Stalberg and Duncan Keith. It wouldn't take long for the Avs to grab control, however. Colorado scored two goals in the span of :35 seconds to gain the lead.

Peter Mueller knotted the game at one when he beat Chicago's Ray Emery for his fifth goal of the season off an assist from Ryan O'Reilly. David Jones made it 2-1 before Chicago could catch its breath by burying his 11th goal of the year off a feed from Milan Hejduk.

Chicago would tie the game at two when Patrick Kane scored his 12th goal of the season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more from around the league, check out SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Avalanche Vs. Blackhawks Score Update: Colorado And Chicago End First Period In Scoreless Tie

The Colorado Avalanche are gunning to hand the Chicago Blackhawks their sixth straight loss tonight at the Pepsi Center, but after one period, the two teams are tied at zero. Each side fired nine shots on target in the first period, but goaltenders Ray Emery and Jean-Sebastien Giguere kept points off the board.

Colorado had a quality goal scoring opportunity just before the period expired, but Chuck Kobasew's shot flew wide of the net.

There was just one penalty in the first period, a two-minute minor called on Colorado's Erik Johnson for cross-checking Chicago's Michael Frolik.

Colorado also enters the game as losers of five straight. At 26-25-3, the Avalanche are third in Northwest Division.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more from around the league, check out SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Avalanche Vs. Blackhawks: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Both the Avalanche and the Blackhawks have had their struggles of late -- they're both 0-4-1 in their last five games -- and one of these teams will take a positive step toward turning their fortunes around on Tuesday. Goaltending has been a problem for the Blackhawks, who have allowed at least three goals in each of their last five games. They lost four of those five by at least two goals. Ray Emery is expected to start in net for Chicago.

Related: Blackhawks at Avalanche, Game 55 Preview

That turmoil in goal could be just the help Colorado needs in order to get back on track.

Date & Time: Tuesday, Feb. 7th,

Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

TV: Altitude

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more from around the league, check out SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Avalanche Vs. Blackhawks: Tyson Barrie Makes NHL Debut Against Chicago

The Colorado Avalanche have lost four straight games by a single goal.