Artturi Lehkonen scored a goal and an assist, with Logan O’Connor and Andre Burakovsky also netting goals, as the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche secured their eighth consecutive victory by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Thursday night.
Pavel Francouz made 26 saves for Colorado, which now boasts a league-best 114 points with eight games remaining. The Avalanche are just four points shy of the franchise record for points in a season, set by the 2000-01 team that won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Devils in the finals.
Colorado holds a four-point lead over the Florida Panthers in the race for the President’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points. The Panthers have played one less game than the Avalanche.
“We’re still fighting for that first overall, as they are,” said coach Jared Bednar. “They’re scoring a bunch of goals every night, so they’re going to be a challenge for whoever they face in the first round.”
Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey, ending their two-game winning streak. Andrew Hammond stopped 25 shots for the Devils.
Colorado took control with a dominant second period, outshooting New Jersey 14-4 and scoring thrice.
O’Connor scored his seventh goal of the season on a rebound at 3:07. Burakovsky followed with his 22nd goal at 7:45, despite Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton knocking the net off its moorings.
“I had to look at the replay to figure out what happened because I was confused when the net was on the ground after and didn’t know if it went in or not,” Hammond said. It was confusing, and unfortunately, it did count.”
Lehkonen made it 3-0 at 14:35 with his 16th goal of the year and second with Colorado.
“It’s fun to get points, but as long as the team keeps winning, that’s all that matters,” Lehkonen said.
Bratt’s 24th goal of the season at 11:39 of the third period spoiled Francouz’s shutout bid.
“We stepped up in the third period and played harder,” Bratt said. “When we play a fast-paced game and don’t turn pucks over on the blue line and get them deep, we create some scoring chances. You can’t play just 20 or 30 good minutes against this kind of team.”
VICTORY TOUR
Members of the national champion University of Denver hockey team were featured throughout the game. Three seniors from the team dropped the ceremonial first puck, and the rest of the team received an ovation when they were shown on the jumbotron sitting in a suite with the championship trophy. During the first intermission, three players participated in a fan contest.
The Pioneers won the program’s ninth NCAA title with a 5-1 victory over Minnesota State in Boston on Saturday night.
WELCOME ABOARD
Colorado’s newest forward, Ben Meyers, spoke before the game. Meyers signed a two-year free-agent contract on Wednesday after playing in the Frozen Four with the University of Minnesota last weekend.
“The plan is just to keep being with the team here in Colorado,” Meyers said. “I don’t know how many games I’ll play, and I don’t know what the plan is going to be for playoffs since I’m not eligible to play, but I’m just excited to be with the team now, and I think it’ll just work itself out.”
Game Notes
- Colorado’s Cale Makar had an assist in tying Steve Duchesne for the most points by a defenseman in franchise history. Duchesne had 83 points for Quebec in 1992-93.
- The Avalanche paid tribute to New Jersey defenseman Ryan Graves during a timeout in the first period. Graves was traded to the Devils last summer before the expansion draft, allowing Colorado to protect its core defensemen from being picked by the Seattle Kraken. Graves took a skate to the chin during the game and got stitches afterward.
- New Jersey’s last win in Denver was on Dec. 17, 2017.
UP NEXT:
- New Jersey: At the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
- Colorado: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
