Philipp Grubauer and Mikko Rantanen both played large roles in the Avalanche’s successful nine-game homestand. And in their first road game in nearly three weeks, the duo were at it again.
Grubauer celebrated his 200th NHL game Monday with a 24-save performance between the pipes and Rantanen scored his league-leading 10th goal in the month of March as the Avalanche defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 at Gila River Arena.
Grubauer, who reached a single-season career-high in wins (19), has been in goal for each of Colorado’s seven consecutive wins. And Rantanen, the Avs leading scorer, extended his point streak to six games (six goals, 11 points) and scored the game-winning goal for the third time in that stretch.
Forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Nazem Kadri and Joonas Donskoi (two) also scored for Colorado, which is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games.
“Everybody likes to win,” Rantanen said of his team’s recent stretch. “That’s the most fun thing in hockey. You want to win and that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re playing the right way. We defend well and we get the wins.”
The Avalanche’s performance on the ice seemed so meaningless on a day where the state of Colorado was mourning the lives of 10 people who were killed by a mass shooting at a King Soopers in Boulder.
Most of the Avs’ players did not receive news of the events until after the game, including Avs coach Jared Bednar, who was choked up when asked about the shooting.
“I’m not sure how many players knew about it and when they found out about it. I didn’t find out about it until I came off the ice after the game,” Bednar said. “Another needless event. It’s just sad and it’s tragic. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and the community of Boulder and everyone affected by that.”
Rantanen’s goal came just 66 seconds after Bellemare opened the scoring. His linemates are both riding point streaks of their own. Superstar center Nathan MacKinnon’s streak also reached six games (four goals, 10 points) and winger Gabe Landeskog’s is at five games (two goals, nine points).
Grubauer’s shutout bid ended with just 3:41 remaining. Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored on the power play to pull the Coyotes within 3-1. But Donskoi scored an empty-netter moments later and added another on goalie Antti Raanta in the final minute for good measure.
Grubauer has surrendered just two goals over his past four games, both of which came on the power play. He has not allowed a goal at even-strength since Colorado’s 5-1 victory over Los Angeles on March 14.
“Our team is doing a nice job of limiting scoring chances against,” Bednar said. “Grubi is doing a nice job of staying sharp without a lot of work. But what he’s doing is making key saves at key times. It’s not a lot of work and sometimes it’s difficult but he’s had a knack for staying focused and making key saves at key times tonight.”
Grubauer also made 11 saves in the third period, including a breakaway.
Johansson suits up: The Avalanche’s recent goaltending acquisition Jonas Johansson served as the backup to Grubauer. Bednar said early Monday that a decision would be made later on if Johansson will start Tuesday’s rematch, which he later reiterated after the game.
Johansson, who is donning sweater No. 35, was acquired from Buffalo for a sixth-round draft pick on Saturday.
Compher’s new role: Forward J.T. Compher was inserted onto the fourth line alongside Bellemare and right-winger Matt Calvert upon his return from injury Saturday. The trio combined to score Colorado’s first goal, helping shift the momentum towards the Avs after both teams started the game slow offensively.
“He’s a really skilled guy. He has that controlled touch,” Bellemare said of playing with Compher. “Obviously the guys that I’ve played with before are good players too but J.T. has so much skill and he’s super fast and could make a play.”
