The Colorado Avalanche played a great first period in their third game of the road trip, taking a 2-1 lead over the Ottawa Senators into the first intermission.

Ottawa took an early lead on the power play just four minutes into the game, as Milan Michalek tipped in a point shot past Jean-Sebastien Giguere. It was the first power play goal that the Avalanche had surrendered this season.

But the lead would not last long, as Colorado struck back with a power play goal from Milan Hejduk just three minutes later. After a mad scramble for the puck in the crease, the puck fell on Hejduk's stick and he quickly fired a wrister past Craig Anderson to tie the game.

Less than 90 seconds later, Ryan O'Reilly pressured Ottawa on the forecheck, forced a turnover, and fed a beautiful backhand pass to Gabriel Landeskog, who buried the puck in the net for a 2-1 lead. It was Landeskog's second career NHL goal, and the rookie has now scored in two straight games.

Colorado completely dominated play in the first period, outshooting the Senators by a 18-4 margin. They have won 76.5 percent of faceoffs. Erik Johnson and Kyle Quincey lead Colorado in ice time,with both defensemen playing over eight minutes in the first period.