In attendance was a mascot (Lil' Bern), two coaches that helped announce the starting lineup to the team, a kids takeover DJ, a broadcast announcer who helped with pregame and intermission shows, an in-arena host and public address announcer. Across social media and AltitudeTV we saw the artwork of many other kids who submitted their Avalanche themed drawings.
The Avalanche were on the board first with a goal by Gabriel Landeskog from right in front of the net during the first frame.
The Sabres tallied their first goal of the game only a couple minutes into the second period to tie the game. This did not last long as the Avalanche regained the lead with two quick goals from Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen before the second period ended.
The game almost finished without either team scoring during the third period, but Valeri Nichushkin landed an empty netter with about one minute til the final buzzer.
The Avalanche and the Sabres will meet once more this season in Buffalo on Feb. 19 for the rescheduled game from late Dec.
THE GOALS
1st Period
7:49 COL (0-1) - Mikko Rantanen shot the puck from the corner over to Gabriel Landeskog who was right in front of the net and pushed the puck past the skate of Dustin Tokarski.
2nd Period
2:37 BUF (1-1) - Jeff Skinner grabbed the puck behind the Avalanche net, Skinner and Dylan Cozens continued to bat at the puck until it finally past the goal line with Cozens as the last to make contact.
11:15 COL (1-2) - After a rebound, Dylan Sikura saw the puck ready to pass over to Nazem Kadri who took a shot glove side for the goal.
13:03 COL (1-3) - PPG Mikko Rantanen took a one-timer hard shot from the right circle to land the puck home.
3rd Period
18:57 COL (1-4) - ENG Logan O'Connor shot the puck all the way down ice just wide of the empty net, but Valeri Nichushkin was fresh from the penalty box and there to secure the rebound off the boards.
Final: Avalanche 4, Sabres 1
3 STARS
POWER PLAYS
Colorado: 1/4
Buffalo: 0/4
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Colorado: Darcy Kuemper allowed 1 goal on 31 shots.
Buffalo: Dustin Tokarski allowed 3 goals on 35 shots.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Colorado Avalanche continues to extend the home win streak to 18 games, the franchise record and fifth for longest home win streaks in NHL history.
NOTEBOOK
The Avalanche have won 10 straight games, tied for second longest win streak in franchise history. The Avalanche holds a 15-0-1 record in January, the team's best month ever and tied for the best record for wins in a single month in NHL history. Two other teams also hold 15 wins in a single month, the Pittsburg Penguins in Mar. 2013 and the Boston Bruins in Mar. 2014. The Avalanche holds a 25-0-2 record this season when scoring first.
ROSTER REPORT
Nothing new to report.
INJURY UPDATE
Nathan MacKinnon left the game on Jan. 26 with a broken nose, he is expected to be out a for few games. Ryan Murray left the game on Jan. 14 and is still out with an upper-body injury. Darren Helm is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Jacob MacDonald remains out with an upper-body injury he sustained on Dec. 12. Stefan Matteau is expected to be out for a few more weeks while he rehabs a lower-body injury from October 2021.
UP NEXT
The Colorado Avalanche will host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday Feb. 1 before heading into the NHL All Star break.
LINE COMBINATIONS
Based on the start of the game
Forwards
92 Landeskog - 96 Rantanen - 13 Nichushkin
18 Newhook - 91 Kadri - 95 Burakovsky
17 Jost - 37 Compher - 25 O'Connor
9 Sikura - 11 Maltsev - 16 Aube-Kubel
Defensemen
7 Toews - 8 Makar
3 J. Johnson - 49 Girard
56 MacDermid - 6 E. Johnson
Goaltenders
35 Kuemper
39 Francouz
