Colorado Avalanche: Best Goals from the Checking Line

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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 31: Matt Nieto #83 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with his bench after scroing a goal against the New York Islanders at the Pepsi Center on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Matt Nieto’s Game-Winning Goal

The Colorado Avalanche finished out 2017 on a high note with a 6-1 win over the New York Islanders. The game-winning goal was scored by Matt Nieto.

Side rant: Now, the Avs have a habit of hosting games at home on New Years’ Eve. Once or twice, the game started late, which made it convenient for the game to be your NYE plans. These last few years, though, the game has started at 6 pm MT — meaning you have to come up with a separate NYE plan. Annoying.

Anyway, Nietoi’s goal. The play came at just under six minutes into the second period. The action is in the Islanders’ zone. The Avs players are making New York goalie Jaroslav Halak work as he makes one, two, three saves in a row.

Finally, Nieto works his way in front of Halak. Carl Soderberg fakes a tip-in attempt but instead feeds the puck to Matt. While falling, Nieto tips in the puck past Halak to put the Avs up 2-0:

That’s a hard-work goal, which you expect from your journeymen.

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