The Colorado Avalanche used a third period flurry to force a shootout, and won their second straight game in a shootout to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-2, and send the hometown Jackets to a 0-4 start.
T.J. Galiardi started the scoring off with a rebound goal in the first period that snuck past goalie Steve Mason for an early 1-0 lead. Columbus' Rick Nash tied the score early in the second period with an unassisted goal, his second of the young season.
Through two periods, Columbus had outshot Colorado by a 30-14 margin and firmly had the game in hand early in the third period on a Radek Martinek slapshot, with assists by Vinny Prospal and Nash. That was their only shot of the period.
Colorado fired off 16 shots in the third period, and eventually tied the score in the final minute of regulation as rookie Gabriel Landeskog earned his first career NHL goal and point to earn the Avalanche a point and force overtime. Former Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda was credited with an assist on the tying goal. After a scoreless extra period, Colorado outscored the Jackets 2-1 in the shootout with goals by Milan Hejduk and Matt Duchene to steal the victory.
The Avalanche move to 2-0 in the first two games of their season-long five game road trip and will face off against the Ottawa Senators and their goalie (and former Avalanche) Craig Anderson. Columbus remains winless on the season.