The Colorado Avalanche are one of five teams fighting for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference, and tonight the Avs earned a pivotal 2-1 overtime win over the one of the other teams also fighting for those playoff spots, the Calgary Flames. The Avs and Flames ended regulation tied 1-1 before David Jones scored with a minute remaining in overtime to give Colorado the victory. The victory gives the Avs 85 points and improves the team to 40-30-5 overall. Calgary (82 points) falls to 34-26-14.
Jones' 18th goal of the season was set-up by teammates Paul Stastny and Matt Hunwick. Stastny had the only other Colorado goal of the night when he beat Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.
Both goalies were great, but it's the Avs' Semyon Varlamov who exits with the upper hand. The Avs out-shot the Flames 33-32 on the night. Calgary won the hit battle 25-24, while Colorado held an edge in faceoffs 26-24.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Flames blog Matchsticks and Gasoline.