Avs Beat Flames 3-2 for 1st Place

For the third time this season, the Calgary Flames could find no answer to the youthful Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are now 3-0 against the Flames this season, all ending with the identical 3-2 score. Interesting that the Avs have the Flames’ number this season, since it seems everyone else in the division has ours.

The Colorado Avalanche have reclaimed their #1 spot in the Northwest Division.

The Calgary Flames still have 3 games in hand, but the Avs also play them 3 more times, so that should just cancel out, right? Kidding, but I wish we could always play with the intensity and tenacity that we showed up with Sunday night. The Avs, who’s Achilles’ heel seems to be starting slow and giving up late leads, didn’t have either of those problems against the Flames. We outshot Calgary an astonishing 20-6 in the first period, and despite only having two shots on goal in the third, we didn’t allow Jerome Iginla and the rest of the Flames’ high-powered offense back into the game.

Wojtek Wolski and Chris Stewart both had a goal and an assist and Darcy Tucker added the game winner. Craig Anderson added 19 saves.

Interesting side note: David Koci recorded a whopping two seconds of ice time for us tonight. That’s two seconds on the ice, and five minutes in the penalty box. Not a bad way to earn his single game salary of about $7,000.

Tonight the Avalanche will face Alex Ovechkin, Jose Theodore, and the high-flying Washington Capitals. Let’s hope our success against Eastern Conference teams this season and Jose Theodore in his career continues.