If the Avalanche were as effective 5-on-4 as they've been in 6-on-5 situations lately, their chances of making the playoffs would be a lot better.
When Tyson Barrie scored with 19.7 seconds left in regulation Tuesday in Dallas, it marked the fourth time in a row the Avalanche scored after pulling goalie Semyon Varlamov for a sixth attacker, all in the past six games.
"I assume if it happens a lot you're getting better at it," coach Patrick Roy said Wednesday. "I like the urgency, we're intense, we're winning our battles. We're desperate to score a goal to tie the game."
Barrie's goal capped a rally from a 2-0 third-period deficit and Max Talbot's goal in the 11th round of the shootout gave the Avalanche a 3-2 win. It was Talbot's first career shootout attempt.
"I wanted my name to be called, but you never know," Talbot said. "The longer it goes, you start thinking about it." Nathan MacKinnon scored with seven seconds left Jan. 17 in a 3-2 shootout loss to Tampa Bay; Ryan O'Reilly scored with 1:45 remaining Jan. 21 in a 3-2 shootout win against Boston; and Nick Holden scored with 36 seconds to go Jan. 27 in a 4-3 overtime loss to Nashville.
The Avalanche went 2-0-2 in the four games, picking up six points when it looked like they would skate off the ice without any.
It's why they're still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, four points (59-55) behind Calgary for the second wild-card position with 31 games left, though the Flames have a 25-15 lead in non-shootout wins.
"Some of it is a bit lucky," Barrie said. "You don't want to get into that position where you have to pull the goalie every game, but it's big for us when we're down a goal and we need a big goal. We're confident we can get it done and guys don't squeeze their sticks too tightly. We just go out there and play our game and try to create some havoc."
The Avalanche ought to add some of that urgency and desperation to the power play, which has gone 0-for-19 in the past six games, 3-for-40 in 14 games and is ranked 29th in the NHL.
"Maybe that's not a bad idea," said Barrie, who has five goals and 25 assists. "Our power play hasn't been what it needs to be. It's obviously not acceptable. The power play is a big part and can help us win games and we have to figure it out. It seems like we've been talking about it all year.
"It seems like we're always trying something too fancy, one and done and we turn it over. We should be shooting more pucks and crash the net. You look around the league and you watch the highlights, it seems that's how most of the goals are scored. That's something we could do better."
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Roy said he has no intention of benching defenseman Nate Guenin against Detroit on Thursday despite his giveaway late in the second period that led to a goal by Erik Cole and gave Dallas a 2-0 lead.
"Mistakes are part of the game and I'm certainly not going to bench players because they're making mistakes," Roy said. "We want to see them bounce back and Nate works so hard, blocking shots, he's playing important minutes with us with Tyson Barrie. I think it's important for us as a coaching staff to make sure that you keep playing your game and don't worry about it, it's part of the game.
"I made my share of mistakes in my career, but I always loved to bounce back and that's what Nate did yesterday. It's tougher for him because he's a defensive defenseman and doesn't have the opportunity to go and get a big goal for us. His teammates did it for him."