clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
SBNation.com homepage

Filed under:

NHL scores 2015: Colorado, Nashville make statements with big wins

The two teams combined for 13 goals in one evening.

By Mary Clarke
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Who says the NHL needs to make the nets bigger, again? The Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators say otherwise, as the teams could only find twine in their games. Both the Avalanche and the Predators scored over five goals apiece en route to their Saturday night victories, and made it look quite fun, too.

For the Avalanche, the win is the highlight of their current three-game unbeaten streak that started Tuesday with their 4-0 trouncing of the Philadelphia Flyers. Putting up a six spot against the Montreal Canadiens seemed unthinkable a week ago, but backup goaltender Mike Condon hasn't had the best time in net since Carey Price went down with an injury at the end of October.

Colorado certainly wasn't at their best in the game, however. Montreal dominated the shot count 40-24 despite the 6-1 loss and were only outdone by Condon's poor goaltending. But, that's just the way hockey works sometimes, as better teams get dealt bad hands and poorer teams find a way to win thanks to some hard work and good bounces. Still, a six goal showing -- no matter how it happens -- can certainly boost a team's confidence, and in the midst of a seven-game road trip, the Avalanche will take all they can get.

In Nashville, the Predators took advantage of a weaker Winnipeg Jets team in a 7-0 shutout win on the back of goaltender Pekka Rinne's 20-shot shutout. It was a mismatch from start to finish, as Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson could only stop four of the seven shots he faced before being yanked at 12:01 of the first period.

The Predators poured on the offense and came away with a four-goal first period, before it got chippy. So chippy, in fact, that frustration boiled over for the Jets and the Predators responded in kind. In the end, 12 players ended up in the penalty box on both sides for unsportsmanlike conduct and Nashville's penalty boxes were close to bursting.

When all was said and done, the two teams combined for 156 penalty minutes, with a majority of them coming in the explosive third period alone.

Scores

New York Rangers 2, Ottawa Senators 1 (SO)

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Carolina Hurricanes 2 (OT)

Boston Bruins 3, Detroit Red Wings 1

San Jose Sharks 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (OT)

Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Vancouver Canucks 2

Colorado Avalanche 6, Montreal Canadiens 1

Florida Panthers 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (SO)

New Jersey Devils 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 0

Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Arizona Coyotes 2

Nashville Predators 7, Winnipeg Jets 0

Chicago Blackhawks 4, St. Louis Blues 2

Dallas Stars 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)

Los Angeles Kings 4, Edmonton Oilers 3

3 things we learned

1. Jake Voracek finally broke scoreless drought for Flyers

Jake Voracek's first goal of the year could not have come at a better time for the Flyers. Philadelphia battled back from a 2-0 start against the Carolina Hurricanes to take it to overtime, where the Flyers' leading point scorer last season finally got on the board this year after 17 games. The win is just the Flyers' second in 10 games, but with Voracek's first goal off his back, Philadelphia might be able to roll together some wins.

2. Dallas remains dangerous in franchise-best start

Things were never really in doubt for the Dallas Stars, even though they went toe to toe with the Minnesota Wild in overtime. Rookie John Klingberg's fourth goal of the year lifted Dallas over the Wild to help the Stars to their best start in franchise history over 18 games. With Montreal's recent struggles, the Stars are now tied for third at the top of the league with the New York Rangers, though the dynamic play of Dallas has made them the league's most dangerous team through the first month of the season.

3. Columbus rolled over resilient Coyotes in first home win

A night after their well-earned 2-1 win against the Penguins, the Blue Jackets took it to the Arizona Coyotes in a 5-2 win. Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 stops in the win as Columbus outlasted five Arizona power plays and allowed no goals on the extra man advantage. The win is Columbus' sixth, but their first win at home in over a month of hockey action. Finally, a good reward for Blue Jackets fans.

Impact Moment

The Penguins didn't have a good night against the Devils in a 4-0 shutout loss. This disastrous goal by former Penguin Bobby Farnham makes it all the worse for Pittsburgh, which has lost three of its last four.

Stat of the Night

All of the penalties assessed in the last period of the Nashville-Winnipeg affair. So many PIMs.

Post to Post

In This Stream

NHL Saturday: Dallas keeps rolling with 3-2 OT win over Wild

View all 10 stories