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Riding the Zamboni - Monday, December 13th

Matt Duchene, Corey Crawford

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9), from Canada, scores past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50), from Canada, to take a 6-5 lead during the third period of an NHL Hockey game in Denver, Dec. 13, 2010. The Avalanche won 7-5. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

AP

Colorado 7 - Chicago 5

When you see this score you’re thinking that Colorado blew them out. Not so fast. Chicago had a 5-4 lead in this game with just 8:17 to play in the third. Then in the final 2:24 of the period, the Avalanche scored three times including an empty net goal to ice the game. Wild, up and down, barn burner hockey baby. Marty Turco started the game for Chicago but was miserable stopping six out of ten shots he faced. Corey Crawford played great until those final minutes saving 17 shots. Even more miserable were defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook who each were -4 on the night.

For Colorado, it was Matt Duchene, Paul Stastny, and Tomas Fleischmann who led the way with three points each. Duchene had two goals and an assist while Stastny and Fleischmann each had a goal and two assists. The comeback for Colorado is the sort of thing that can pick a team up that was playing pretty iffy hockey through the evening. For Chicago, it’s the sort of loss that serves as a wake up call to a team that could stand to use it.

Los Angeles 5 - Detroit 0

We discussed this one at length earlier tonight. The highlights all center around Jonathan Quick’s 51-save shutout, including stopping 26 shots in the second period alone. Anze Kopitar had two goals while Drew Doughty had three assists to lead the offense for the Kings.

(F/OT)

Jason Spezza went from hero to goat in a matter of minutes. His penalty shot goal in the third period knotted the game up at 3-3, but a brutal turnover in overtime turned into Bryan Little’s game-winning goal in the extra session, his second goal of the game. Dustin Byfuglien scored his 11th goal of the season, good for a new Thrashers team record for defensemen - a record broken in just 31 games. Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves to earn the win. Daniel Alfredsson snapped a 13-game goalless drought adding a second period for Ottawa.

Nashville 5 - NY Islanders 0

Same old, same old for the Islanders and an emphatic win for the Predators. Anders Lindback gets his second shutout of the season stopping all 28 shots he faced. Patric Hornqvist scored two goals while Sergei Kostitsyn had a goal and an assist and Cody Franson had two assists to pace the offense for Nashville. For New York, it’s their sixth loss in a row and 20th in their last 21 games. New head coach Jack Capuano is now 1-8-2 since taking over for Scott Gordon. The Islanders are on a pace to be one of the NHL’s all-time worst teams.

(F/OT)

Jarome Iginla showed what he’s about tonight. Iginla scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Flames to the win. Calgary jumped out fast in this one scoring two of their first four shots of the game with Iginla and Brendan Morrison beating Steve Mason. Mason was pulled after Morrison’s goal and Mathieu Garon held strong until overtime stopping 20 shots. Miikka Kiprusoff held strong stopping 22 shots and only allowing goals to Antoine Vermette and Rick Nash. For Nash it’s his 17th goal of the season. Goat of the game? Fedor Tyutin who as a -3 for Columbus.

Dallas 3 - San Jose 2 (F/SO)

Another late night game that was spectacular to watch only to be spoiled by the lame shootout. Andrew Raycroft and Antti Niemi turned out to be the studs tonight for their teams. Raycroft stopped 31 shots for Dallas while Niemi stopped 29 for the Sharks. Jamie Benn and Mike Ribeiro had Dallas’ goals that counted while Brad Richards iced the game in the shootout. Derek Joslin and Ryane Clowe scored for San Jose. Should this race in the Pacific Division keep up all season, these two will play some fantastic games in the future.