Colorado Avalanche continue to roll with third straight over Detroit Red Wings 4-3 -NHL Update
Colorado has begun showing signs of a major comeback as they grabbed their third straight victory over a top-notch team on Saturday night, February 25, 2012, as the Avalanche downed Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, at the sold-out Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Detroit surprisingly could not manage to win against a team struggling recently in the last few weeks, and lost its first place in the Western Conference to Vancouver Canucks, which moved into the top spot, a point ahead with 86.
Going up against the Red Wings was certainly not going to be easy and Colorado knew that. That is why the rookie team built up some momentum by shutting out Columbus Blues Jackets, 5-0, just a day earlier.
"We knew this win was going to be tough," said recently-acquired Avalanche forward, Steve Downie.
"It's hard to win in this league on back-to-backs, especially in this building, but we came out hard and withstood their pressure. We knew they were going to come out [hard] in the third. They're a great home team, but we got through it."
Surprisingly, ever since Detroit had its 23 consecutive home win record smashed by Vancouver Canucks earlier on Thursday, it cannot get back to its winning ways, and has lost three in a row now.
Colorado's rookie, Gabriel Landeskog, showed great form as he picked up two goals.
He inaugurated the scoring with his 17th of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, 1:35 into the first.
David Jones extended the lead on a stunning breakaway, unassisted while being shorthanded, as Colorado’s Mark Olver was on the benches for goalkeeper interference, nearly a minute later.
Landeskog added his 18th, 13:35 into the second, which eventually allowed to hold Detroit off till the end.
Detroit came out strong and determined in the third as Jiri Hudler scored two and Valtteri Filppula added another but Steve Downie’s 14th, nearly midway through, kept the lead for Colorado.
"[Downie] adds grit and skill to our lineup, which is exactly what we thought we were getting when we acquired him," Colorado coach Joe Sacco said.
Colorado has lots of expectations and their next at home against Anaheim Ducks on Monday will definitely be a must watch.
Detroit also has something to look forward to when they face-off against Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
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