Simple as that.
In the first-ever matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Utah Hockey Club, it would be the visiting team taking care of business. The Avs went into Salt Lake City and got a big 5-1 win to end the road trip.
The Avs went from 0-4 to 4-4 just like that with the perfect road trip record. Now coming home for the next three games, Colorado will look to keep it rolling on home ice. Here’s how it all went down at the Delta Center.
First Period
After the Avs killed off an early Josh Manson holding penalty, they would turn up the offense themselves. Sam Girard had a shot from the near circle hit the stick of Karel Vejmellka before going out of play. Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar connected on a few nice passing plays which led to some chances, and it wouldn’t be the last ones they found.
Utah got itself into penalty trouble with Michael Kesselring hooking Ross Colton, and then Ian Cole having a near knee-on-knee hit with Casey Mittelstadt which drew a crowd. Colorado made them pay on the power play, with Colton scoring once again on the man advantage to take the lead.
At the other end, Justus Annunen was mostly quiet. But, Clayton Keller and the Hockey Club’s first line had a good shift with six minutes left which tested the Avs netminder, who took care of business.
His work at one end would help his team’s effort at the other. In the closing minutes, Rantanen and Makar would connect again on a passing play, leading Makar in and his shot trickled through Vejmelka and across the goal line to double the lead heading into the room.
Second Period
After killing off yet another early Manson penalty, the Avs got some odd-man rushes with Parker Kelly and Logan O’Connor, plus Nathan MacKinnon and Rantanen but couldn’t find the twine.
Colorado avoided disaster on a shorthanded Kevin Stenlund breakaway chance and eventually made Utah pay. Nikolai Kovalenko set up Sam Malinski for a nice wraparound attempt, which was finished off in front of the net by Casey Mittelstadt with ease.
Miles Wood nearly added on moments later, and Rantanen had his shot on the next power play opportunity saved off the line. But it wouldn’t matter as just seconds later, Ivan Ivan ripped home his first career NHL goal from Colton’s spot to make it a 4-0 game with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Third Period
Colorado played the first half of the period with ease, slowing play down and shutting down the Utah offense. They came close and evened up the shots…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at "ice hockey" – Google News…