Rock bottom. That has to be where the Colorado Avalanche are currently. Monday started with Peter Forsberg announcing his retirement and then ended in complete disaster. The Calgary Flames defeated the Avalanche, 9-1.
The Flames opened up the game with a 5-0 lead. David Moss scored 18 seconds into the game and then it snowballed from there. Anton Babchuk on the power play, Jarome Iginla, Curtis Glencross and Olli Jokinen all scored before the period was over. While the Avs did not allow a goal in the second period, the Flames dialed things to 11 to start the final period of play with two goals in the first three minutes of play. Two more goals followed. Not pretty at all.
Daniel Winnik put the Avalanche on the board at 11:09 in the second period. Philippe Dupuis received a five minute major and a 10 minute game misconduct for kneeing Olli Jokinen in the first period. He's likely to receive a suspension for the hit. Matt Duchene did not return for the third period following a hand injury and Cameron Gaunce suffered a left leg injury late in the final period.
Peter Budaj started in net for the Avalanche, but didn't end the game there. Three swaps were made, with Craig Anderson finishing the game. Budaj made 13 saves on 18 shots while Anderson stopped 11 shots on 15 attempts. Calgary put in Henrik Karlsson to finish the game.
The Avalanche (25-26-6, 56 points) are now on an eight-game losing streak and have lost 10 of their last 11. They host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
The long-awaited Peter Forsberg comeback was short-lived, as the legendary forward retired after playing just two games this season for the Colorado Avalanche. Unfortunately, fans who purchased tickets to tonight's game to see Forsberg's home debut against the Calgary Flames will feel short-changed by tonight's festivities. But the game must go on....
Colorado is officially in free fall, having lost six straight games. Their last game, a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on February 12, was particularly heartbreaking. Colorado held leads on two separate occasions (and led in the third period) before a shot beat Peter Budaj, who had played his best game of the year up to that point.
Now Colorado looks more towards a potential Top Five draft selection in this year's NHL Amateur Draft instead of the Northwest Division crown they had hopes for in December.
Calgary, on the other hand, has been the most electric team in the NHL in 2011 and have shot up the Western Conference standings into the playoff picture. They are 8-1-2 in their previous 11 games, led by goalie Miikka Kiprusoff's 2.30 GAA. They have used a balanced scoring attack to place themselves into contention, with six separate players tallying seven or more points in the past 10 contests.
Peter Budaj will start again in net, even though Craig Anderson is back with the team. Miikka Kiprusoff will play for Calgary.
