Avalanche's Second-Period Turnaround Leads to 4-1 Victory Over Islanders, Team's Sixth-Consecutive Win

A Weekend Win

Ross Colton and Victor Olofsson scored 79 seconds apart in the middle frame to give the Avs the lead on the way to the team's 4-1 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday at Ball Arena. Martin Necas and Brock Nelson each added tallies for Colorado while Scott Wedgewood stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced.

Throughout the game, Colorado's penalty kill took the ice four times while holding a 2-1 lead and went 4/4.

“It’s the reason we’re winning," Wedgewood said about the team blocking shots. "It’s a big part of our defensive game to buy-in in all facets, not just on the offensive side. We know we have that talent, but it’s been an awesome year of being very detailed in our end and taking away options, taking away shooting lanes, tying up sticks. It makes my job a lot easier when there’s not a ton of options that can deflect pucks or feel like guys are open. It’s been fun to play behind them and when they sacrifice their [bodies], it’s obviously a big moment. They get their thanks in video the day after for sure.”

With its sixth-consecutive victory, the Avalanche improved to 13-1-5.

How It Happened

Emil Heineman opened the scoring at 2:05 of the first period when he redirected a pass from the slot with his left skate.

The Avs tied the game at 4:32 of the second period when Colton scored his third goal of the season via a left-circle wrist shot off the rush set up by Cale Makar's stretch pass.

"I think [Colton] has been really good for us recently," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said. "[He's] another guy that just seems to have found another gear with his skating. He's showing up consistently, [on a] nightly basis, every game, making some difference-making plays. Today was another one. He gets a big goal to get us started and it's using his speed through the neutral zone. And he's been a hunter on the forecheck, turning over pucks. So he's coming up with pucks because he's using his skating, he's relentless on it. But I've liked his game a lot."

Olofsson gave the Avs a 2-1 lead at 5:51 of the middle frame with his sixth goal of the season via a deflection on Sam Malinski's right-point wrist shot.

Necas doubled Colorado's lead at 19:25 of the third period with his 13th goal of the season via an empty-net tally.

The Avs took a 4-1 when Nelson scored his fifth goal of the season at 19:44 of the third period via a redirection from the right doorstep on Brent Burns' shot from the high slot.

Next Up

The Avalanche concludes its homestand against the New York Rangers on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT on Altitude, KUSA-9, KTVD-20, Altitude+ and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.