It was a gallant change of heart.
The first period felt like a funeral. The Avalanche played as if its playoff hopes were dead during the first 20 minutes Tuesday at the Pepsi Center.
The Edmonton Oilers, who were eliminated from the postseason by losing Monday at Vegas, produced the game’s first nine shots in surprisingly dominating the Avs, who entered the game two points ahead of Arizona for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.
But then the second period began around the same time Arizona dropped the puck at home against the Los Angeles Kings, and the Avs — playing their 80th game in the 82-game season — took off.