The Colorado Avalanche lost their preseason home opener to the visiting St. Louis Blues by a 3-2 score. Starting Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov played the entire game, allowing two goals (one on a Blues' power play and one with severe traffic in front of the net) but otherwise looking ready for the season to start.
St. Louis didn't bring their entire squad to Denver, leaving former Avalanche members Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart behind for this scrimmage, though that didn't stop the game from becoming intense as forward Cody McLeod agitated Blues' forwards for most of the game and eventually drawing a five minute major for fighting at the end of the second period.
Colorado played their top two lines, with Peter Mueller and Milan Hejduk flanking Matt Duchene on the first line, and Noakim Lindstrom and David Jones playing next to Paul Stastny. Former Blues forward Jay McClement played with McLeod and Brandon Yip throughout the game.
While St. Louis took a 2-0 lead through the first two periods, Colorado scored two goals within five minutes at the end of the third period to make the game competitive, but an empty net goal by Blues' forward David Backes in the final minute proved to be the decisive goal.
Paul Stastny and top defensive prospect Tyson Barrie scored the goals for Colorado.
Colorado will continue their preseason schedule at home against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, September 25. They are currently 0-2 during the preseason..