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Hoping to build on comeback win

November 20, 2016, 4:53 PM ET [8 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Just when you least expected it ...

The Avalanche scored three third-period goals Saturday to wipe out a 2-0 deficit and knock off Minnesota 3-2, their second win in as many games between the teams.

Calvin Pickard, who shut out the Wild 1-0 at the Pepsi Center on Nov. 5, made 41 saves at the Xcel Energy Center for his fourth win in five decisions this season. He lowered his goals-against average to 2.07 and raised his save percentage to .931.

"I liked my game and I had to be technically sound around my net," Pickard told reporters. "We missed a lot of good chances in the second period, but you knew at some point it was going to break through. In the third period right away we got a couple quick ones and then Nate (MacKinnon) goes through the middle there and makes a great effort to get the third. We played great defense down the stretch and blocked shots and won draws and earned that victory.

"I felt good both times playing them. They throw a lot of pucks at the net and both games we were good at boxing out, (clearing) rebounds and letting me see the puck. Big efforts from our 'D' and our forwards helping out down low."

Rookie Mikko Rantanen and Carl Soderberg (his first goal in 13 games) tied the score before MacKinnon sped through the middle and beat goalie Devan Dubnyk for his fourth goal of the season to put the Avalanche ahead. MacKinnon has two goals, two assists and 11 shots in the past two games after launching a career-high 10 shots Tuesday against Los Angeles.

"I felt like I had a lot of good chances over the first 17 games," MacKinnon said. "When I went 10 games without a goal ... I don't think you deserve goals, but you feel like you're around the net and they should start going in. It was tough there for a while and now I want to keep it going."

MacKinnon has taken over the team lead in scoring with 12 points, one more than Matt Duchene, who missed his third consecutive game while recovering from his concussion.

Duchene practiced Sunday in Columbus -- he also took part in the morning skate Saturday -- but his status for Monday against the Blue Jackets is yet to be determined. Gabriel Landeskog remained in Colorado to continue treatment for a lower-body injury.

"I think this is a win we can build around, hopefully get some momentum from it going forward," Erik Johnson said of beating the Wild. "It's such a character win, especially having two of our better offensive guys out. I think this win can take us a long way and get us rolling."

The Avalanche (8-9-0) haven't won two games in a row since the first two games of the season and will take on a Blue Jackets team that has won four in a row.

Columbus (10-4-2) defeated Washington 3-2 on the road Sunday. The Blue Jackets overcame a 2-1 third-period deficit and got the winner when Alexander Wennberg scored a power-play goal with 54 seconds left in regulation. Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves.



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