Jamie McGinn gets last second equaliser as Colorado Avalanche top Buffalo Sabres in Shootout 5-4 –NHL
Jamie McGinn kept the Colorado team alive as he potted the final second equaliser in round-three of the competition as the Avalanche continued rolling to take down Buffalo Sabres in a shootout decider, 5-4, Wednesday night, March 14, 2012, at the sold-out
First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.
"This is the biggest win of the year," Colorado forward, Peter Mueller, said. "To go from zero points to getting two with seconds left, you don't make that stuff up. It just shows the character of this team in that we never quit."
Marcus Foligno kicked off the scoring as he picked up the loose puck in the opening minute of the first as the Colorado defenseman lost control while bringing it up following a face-off win.
McGinn answered with his first of the night to level it right then and there nearly midway through which followed by another Buffalo score with Drew Stafford on the breakaway with his team shorthanded due to Alexander Sulzer on the benches for tripping.
David Jones capped the thrilling opener off to equalise the match yet again with his 17th of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, giving the home team something to work for as the game headed towards the middle period.
"We've got a lot of guys that work hard and really want to get the job done," Colorado Avalanche defenseman, Erik Johnson, said. "We battled right to the end."
For Buffalo, their players were trying hard and stayed consistent with the Colorado Avalanche at every twist and turn but not being able to maintain a lead at any moment eventually got them down in the end.
"Frustrating," Buffalo coach, Lindy Ruff, said. "You play with fire, you'll get burnt. We should have had a D in front of the net, and one of the defensemen were behind the net."
Top Colorado rookie, Gabriel Landeskog, picked up his 20th of the year on the power play 5:35 into the second, following by another goal from Marcus Foligno.
Alexander Sulzer gave Sabres the one point lead entering the final period of regulation and helped keep it till 19:58, but unfortunately, with two seconds left to play, McGinn got a tip in to force the overtime extension.
Peter Mueller made the only goal of the shootout after a scoreless overtime to take the match for Colorado.
On a three-game winning streak now, all above regulation, Colorado looks hot going in against New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
Buffalo has the next against the fierce Florida Panthers on Saturday.
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