Nineteen minutes into the game, the Avalanche penalty kill was 19 attempts into the season. This time, on the 20th, Colorado had everything working in its favor to flip the script.
The Avs had dominated the first period in Las Vegas on Saturday, with a 1-0 lead and 10 shots to three. It was a near-perfect start 24 hours after what coach Jared Bednar described as a “sloppy” performance. Conquering a developing Achilles heel would be a cherry on top.
Instead, another breakdown ensued. A pass slipped between Avalanche veterans Andrew Cogliano and Erik Johnson.