No Comeback In Calgary

CALGARY, Alberta--In the first two games of the team's Western Canada road trip, the Colorado Avalanche was able to come back and earn at least a point.
The club couldn't do it a third time to finish out the trek, as the Avs lost 5-1 to the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome.

"We know we have the capability, and we have the character and will to comeback from behind," said Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog. "It takes a lot of energy to do that on a night-to-night basis. You can't let them score 15 seconds into the game and things like that, especially when we know how important of a game it is."
The Avalanche erased a three-goal deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks in overtime to open the trip on Tuesday and then came back on Thursday after being down 2-0 at the Edmonton Oilers to gain a point in the OT loss.
The score was never even after 0-0 in the Avs' game in Alberta's largest city.
Video: Gabe Landeskog after the loss to the Flames
Colorado had a strong first period, outshooting Calgary by a 15-8 margin but trailed 2-1. The Avalanche had to play from behind for almost the entire contest as the Flames' Michael Frolik scored just 18 seconds into the game, but the squad was still pleased with how it opened the first 20 minutes.
"Playing from behind, catch up hockey is losing hockey, generally," said Colorado head coach Jared Bednar. "We give up the goal in the first shift of the game and then we have a really good first period. I think our guys were ready to go, we had a turnover behind the net, and I'm sure Semyon Varlamov
Colorado hit a couple posts in the middle frame, including a shot from Nathan MacKinnon during an early man advantage.
"You really see how quick things can turn," Landeskog said. "We had a power play, and Nate has one off the crossbar. We have some more chances and their goalie made some big saves. We get down a man and all of a sudden they score to make it 3-1.
"We came into the third and we're pretty optimistic, and we're excited, trying to get one in the first 10 and then push after that. They got 4-1 pretty quick off a turnover. Just constant mistakes at times, and not capitalizing on our chances."
The Avalanche and Flames will meet again in four days as the clubs finish their season series in Denver on Wednesday.

SHOT FROM DOWNTOWN

Coaches like to say that if you put pucks on net, good things happen. Nathan MacKinnon proved that late in the first period.
MacKinnon fired a wrist shot from just past center ice, and the puck caromed off the left post and the Calgary goaltender Jon Gillies' back before settling across the goal line. The marker cut the Avs' deficit to 2-1 with 3:36 left in the opening period.
It was MacKinnon's 26th goal of the season, which was tied for 16th overall in the NHL before the start of Saturday night's league contests.
Duncan Siemens picked up his first NHL point with the secondary assist on the tally. He was playing in his fourth game of the season and eighth of his career.

ROAD STRETCH ENDS

Saturday's game was the last of a road-heavy stretch that saw the Avalanche play 13-of-16 away from Pepsi Center.
Colorado went 4-7-2 in its 13 road outings and 2-1-0 during its three home games. The Avs only had one-game homestays during the stretch.
The Avalanche will play a more favorable schedule to close out the season with 12 games at home and nine on the road. Colorado faces the Vancouver Canucks on Monday to open a four-game homestand, marking the first time the Avs will play consecutive contests at Pepsi Center since Jan. 15-20.

DAY-TIME HOCKEY

Colorado began a stretch that will see the team play an afternoon contest for five consecutive weekends.
The outing in Calgary was the Avs' eighth of 12 matinees this season and the last one on the road. The Avalanche is now 3-4-1 in afternoon games and finished 1-3-1 as the visiting team.
Colorado's 12 day outings are its most since 2008-09 (12). It's next home matinee is Sunday, March 4 versus the Nashville Predators.