Avalanche end scoring drought, take down Blues

We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Nov 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save on Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor (25) as defenseman Justin Faulk (72) defends in the first period at Ball Arena.
Nov 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save on Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor (25) as defenseman Justin Faulk (72) defends in the first period at Ball Arena.
Image: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton, Bowen Byram and Artturi Lehkonen also scored, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 in Denver on Wednesday night.

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar had two assists each and Ivan Prosvetov turned away 27 shots in his first start with Colorado.

Advertisement

Rob Thomas scored and Jordan Binnington made 24 saves for the Blues.

The Avalanche were shut out in their previous two games and went 129 minutes, 24 seconds without a goal before Colton ended the drought. He got the puck at the St. Louis blueline, got a step ahead of defenseman Tyler Tucker and beat Binnington to the far side at 8:53 of the first.

Advertisement

It was his second of the season.

Rantanen made it a 2-0 game later in the period on Colorado's first power-play chance of the night. Makar had the puck at the point, fed Rantanen at the right circle and he roofed a shot by Binnington for his sixth of the season.

Advertisement

The Blues unsuccessfully challenged for a missed stoppage and were given a delay of game minor.

The Avalanche had a chance to extend the lead in the second when Binnington fanned on a clearing attempt but Miles Wood couldn't get a clean shot on net.

Advertisement

It stayed 2-0 until late in the second period when Kasperi Kapanen brought the puck into Colorado's zone and fed Thomas above the left circle. Thomas stickhandled into the slot and beat Prosvetov with a shot high at 17:49 for his second goal of the season.

The Avalanche got it back early in the third. Rantanen fed Makar in the right circle, Binnington made the save on his shot but the rebound came out front and Lehkonen tapped it in at 1:41. It was his third season.

Advertisement

Colorado iced it later in the third period when MacKinnon got the puck near the left circle, sent a pass across to Byram, who one-timed it by Binnington at 7:59. It was his second of the season.

—Field Level Media