Frederik Andersen gets shutout for Maple Leafs

DENVER -- Frederik Andersen had 38 saves, and Nazem Kadri scored two goals in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Thursday.
The shutout was the first of the season for Andersen and the Maple Leafs. Andersen has seven shutouts in his NHL career.

"It's always fun to have a shutout] but wins are the most important," Andersen said. "We're happy to get the two points today. Let's keep it going."
**WATCH: [All Maple Leafs vs. Avalanche highlights**
The Maple Leafs (13-12-7) scored five goals on 18 shots against Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was replaced by Calvin Pickard in the second period. Varlamov had 51 saves in a 3-1 win against Toronto on Dec. 11.
Toronto matched its season high for goals after scoring two or fewer the past five games.

"We know we can score," Kadri said. "It's just about being persistent and kind of just staying on top of it, not getting discouraged when we don't score goals. We've had opportunities every single game, it's just the puck doesn't go in the back of the net."
The Avalanche (11-20-1) have lost five consecutive games, eight in a row (0-7-1) on home ice. They've been shut out in their past two games and seven times this season.
"Probably as frustrating as it's ever been, but you're not going to get anywhere if you just roll over and feel sorry for yourself," Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "We just have to dig deep and work hard. We ran into a hot goalie, no doubt, but hot goalie or not, you can't let in six goals. It's frustrating and embarrassing."

The Maple Leafs took a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals by Auston Matthews, Connor Brown on a power play and Kadri, who also had a third-period power-play goal.
"We skated well early, we got that [Matthews] goal and then we seemed to gain some traction," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "We were able to capitalize on our power play and we were able to keep it out on the penalty kill. It was one of those nights where our goalie was good and we were able to find the net."

The lead increased to 5-0 on second-period goals by James van Riemsdyk at 6:05 and Frederik Gauthier, who scored his first NHL goal at 8:42 to chase Varlamov.
Matthews gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 7:13. He skated down the right wing and shot by Varlamov's right arm for his 16th goal of the season.
Brown made it 2-0 with his fifth goal at 11:49, scoring from between the faceoff circles after taking a pass from William Nylander.

Kadri scored at 18:20, tipping in Roman Polak's shot from the blue line for his 12th goal.
"All lines contributed," Matthews said. "I think that's the biggest part. Everybody was full throttle, we didn't back up. Momentum can swing to their side, but Frederik came up big again."

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Goal of the game

Playing in his second game of the season and ninth career NHL game, Gauthier scored his first goal on a shot from above the right hash marks that beat Varlamov to the glove side. "Going to call after the game, see if they've seen it or watched the game," Gauthier said of his parents. "It's going to be fun to talk to them."

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Save of the game

Andersen stopped Patrick Wiercioch's shot from the right point as Matt Duchene attempted to redirect it into the net at 10:30 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Van Riemsdyk exited the penalty box, used Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie as a screen and put a wrist shot by Varlamov's glove.

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Unsung performance of the game

Maple Leafs defenseman Matt Hunwick played 20:10 -- 6:50 of it helping to kill six Avalanche power plays, including two 5-on-3's. He blocked three shots and had two takeaways.

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They said it

"He was a brick wall, nothing was getting past him. They had a couple opportunities that had chances to find the back of the net and he stood strong in there. He's just a safety valve back there for us." -- Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri on goalie Frederik Andersen
"We need to score more than zero goals if we're going to get out of last place. Our power play's really bad, our 5-on-5 is bad." -- Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon
"We have to get something going. We need that spark, we need some energy, we need some physicality." -- Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin

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Need to know

The Avalanche have been outscored 19-5 during their five-game losing streak and are 1-for-23 on the power play.

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What's next

Maple Leafs: At the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A, SNO, NHL.TV)
Avalanche: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, ALT, NHL.TV)