'You can't take a period off,' Avs lacked intensity in loss to Bruins
The Avalanche did not start the game at a high energy level and it cost them in the end.
A different Colorado Avalanche team showed up for the rematch against the Boston Bruins just 10 days after winning in a shootout at Ball Arena.
"It wasn't our night. Give them credit they played well start to finish," Bednar said after the loss. "You can't take a period off ... especially against the top teams — you're just not going to win."
The Avs lacked energy and intensity in the first period which cost them. Boston scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game, but Miles Wood got the team on the board at 12:28 to keep it within reach.
The second line, Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O'Connor, combined for nearly 48 minutes of ice time in the matchup. Thursday night's game was the third in four days so fatigue was a possibility.
"We're obviously in the middle of a tough road trip, and a lot of games in very few nights so you have to use your whole bench ...," Bednar said. "We tried to use as many guys as we could but Colton's line certainly was probably at times in the game our most dangerous line. So we're trying to get them out there as much possible."
Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk was awarded a goal after a review of an offside challenged by the Avs, which put Boston up by two at 5:08 in the first.
"Individually you've got to expect when you go on with a road trip, you might not have your legs, you might not have your jump, but you got to be a professional, you got to find them," Andrew Cogliano told Guerilla Sports reporter Jesse Montano. "You got to find a way individually to make yourself go, and get yourself going and get your legs into it. If they're not feeling good, it comes down to mental toughness at that point."
Nathan MacKinnon was the lone goal scorer in the second period with Josh Manson and Cale Makar as helpers. Makar fell short by one point to tie Bruins' legend Bobby Orr's NHL record for defenseman to hit 300 points in fewest games — Orr did so in 279 and it was Makar's 279th game.
David Pasternak racked up another two goals in the third, one in an empty net which earned him a hat trick on the night.
Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves while the Avalanche had 32 shots on goal against Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
Colorado finishes its five-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers in a matinee game at 11 a.m. MT.