SB Nation Denver - Avalanche Vs. Coyotes: Ryan O'Reilly Leads Colorado To 4-3 Victory In Shootouthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-04-01T22:57:22-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18489772011-04-01T22:57:22-06:002011-04-01T22:57:22-06:00Avalanche Final Score: Ryan O'Reilly Leads Colorado To 4-3 Victory In Shootout
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<p>After losing in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> had a difficult challenge ahead of them as they flew to Arizona and faced the playoff contending <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a>. With the Avalanche’s recent struggles, the odds were stacked against them. Fortunately, forward Ryan O’Reilly and goalie <span>Peter Budaj</span> shared the spotlight as heroes and Colorado escaped with a 4-3 win in the shootout.</p>
<p>Colorado took an early 1-0 lead late in the first period as <span>Philippe Dupuis</span>’ wrist shot slipped past <span>Ilya Bryzgalov</span>. Avalanche forward <span>Jay McClement</span> made the score 2-0 in the second period. After that, it was all Phoenix.</p>
<p>Goals by <span>Lee Stempniak</span> and <span>Ray Whitney</span> tied the score, and <span>Shane Doan</span> took advantage of a power play, blasting the puck past Budaj halfway through the third period for what appeared to be the game winning goal. But Ryan O’Reilly continued his torrid goal scoring pace of late, rocketing a tough angle shot under Bryzgalov’s armpit with under five minutes to play -- <b>their first and only shot in the period.</b> Budaj stopped shot after shot, surviving a Phoenix power play into overtime and sending the game to the shootout.</p>
<p>O’Reilly became the official hero in the shootout, pushing the puck between Bryzgalov’s pads for the only score of the shootout round.</p>
<p>The victory was Peter Budaj’s 100th career victory. He earned it tonight.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/4/1/2086300/avalanche-final-score-ryan-oreilly-leads-colorado-to-4-3-victory-inMuzia2011-04-01T10:02:57-06:002011-04-01T10:02:57-06:00Avalanche Vs. Coyotes: Colorado Looks To Snap Four-Game Losing Streak
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<p><font size="2"> (Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> will attempt to wrap a six-game homestand with a ninth victory in 11 contests and sweep their season series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> tonight at Jobing.com Arena. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Coyotes are 3-2 on their residency and bested the Stars, 2-1, in a shootout on Tuesday. With just two losses in its last 10 games, Phoenix remains fourth overall in the Western Conference with 95 points, one point ahead of Los Angeles. The Coyotes have four games remaining to the Kings' five. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Phoenix is also just four points back of San Jose, which also has a game in hand, for first place in the Pacific Division. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Coyotes, though, can still have a say in how the standings will shake down. The club will visit the Kings on Wednesday before wrapping the season with a home-and-home set against the Sharks. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>David Schlemko</span> scored in regulation and <span>Ray Whitney</span> had the winner in the shootout on Tuesday, helping <span>Ilya Bryzgalov</span> match Bob Essensa for first place on the club's all-time wins list with 129. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "I'm not really thinking about big game or not," said Bryzgalov, who made a career-high 44 saves. "You enjoy every game." </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Bryzgalov is 7-4-2 with a 2.31 goals-against average in his career versus the Avalanche, including a pair of victories this season. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Phoenix has sandwiched a pair of shutout victories over Colorado around a 5-2 road win on Jan. 26, outscoring the Avalanche 10-2 this season while running its overall series winning streak to five straight. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Coyotes' 3-0 home victory on Feb. 7 also gave them a win in five straight and six of the past seven played in the desert, but Phoenix hasn't swept the Colorado franchise since the Winnipeg Jets took all three meetings from the Quebec Nordiques in 1990-91. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Colorado will try to get on track tonight after dropping a fourth straight contest last night. The Avalanche got late goals from Paul Stastny and John- Michael Liles, but couldn't overcome an early hole and fell 3-2 at home to the Predators. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Brian Elliott made 31 saves for the Avs, who are 3-22-2 in their past 27 games and fell to 15-19-4 at home this season. They are 13-21-4 on the road and reached the 40-loss mark for the second time in three seasons. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "We've already had some success on the road, seems like we play better there," said Avs forward <span>Milan Hejduk</span> of the club's late-season slide in front of less than enthusiastic crowds. "I don't know what the explanation is. I realize what the attendance is. It's not what it used to be. It's our own fault." </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Matt Duchene</span> had an assist to give him six goals and six helpers over his last nine games. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Colorado's 64 points are ahead of only Edmonton's 57 in the overall NHL standings. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Elliott has split a pair of decisions versus the Coyotes with a 2.55 GAA, while <span>Peter Budaj</span> is 7-3-3 against them with a 2.70 GAA. </font></p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/1/2332542/avalanche-vs-coyotes-colorado-looks-to-snap-four-game-losing-streakRuss Oates