Halak makes 32 saves, Canucks defeat Avalanche to end three-game skid

DENVER -- Jaroslav Halak made 32 saves for the Vancouver Canucks in a 3-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

It was Halak's third win of the season and his first since Jan. 31 (four starts). Thatcher Demko started Vancouver's previous nine games.
"It's always nice to get a win in this league; it never gets old," Halak said. "I think we, for the most part in the game, played pretty well. You've got to give them credit, (but) our guys battled hard. They're a good team, Colorado, they're a really good team, but we were able to not play into their hands. We tried to stick to our game plan."

J.T. Miller had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (31-26-8), who ended a three-game skid (0-2-1). Tanner Pearson had two assists.
"I know for me, I was going to match up against one of the best lines in hockey," Miller said. "That's why I play. I want to be on against those guys. Everybody stepped up defensively tonight, but being out there against them, I know it brings the best out of me."
Nazem Kadri scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves for the Avalanche (45-14-5), who had won four in a row.
"We had a couple of costly mistakes and it ends up in the back of our net," Kadri said. "But besides that lapse, I think the game was pretty solid for us. They're an opportunistic team. They've got some talent up front, and they were able to take advantage of those mistakes."

Brock Boeser scored to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead at 1:23 of the third period with a wrist shot from between the face-off circles.
Miller made it 2-0 at 3:15 on a rebound after Kuemper made a save against Pearson during a 2-on-1.
"Not all the time you're going to hold that team to one goal," Miller said. "I understand you can play a good defensive game and they're still going to get stuff. But for me, I feel like it makes me a better player. I love those moments. We needed a win. We're still not out of it."
Kadri scored a power-play goal to make it 2-1 at 6:15 after he tipped a point shot from Nathan MacKinnon and corralled the rebound to beat Halak.
"I thought they did a nice job, Vancouver did, of kind of keeping us out on the perimeter," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "We had a couple chances in there, but the attack mentality and getting pucks to the net and retrieving them just wasn't quite where it was the other night. You see the one we score, (that's) exactly what we did -- move it around the perimeter, pass or two, and 'Nate' sifts it right to the net for a tip and the rebound's in the back of the net. I would've liked to see us do that a little bit more tonight."

Bo Horvat scored an empty-net goal with 18 seconds remaining for the 3-1 final.
"It's the best game I've been a part of with this team," Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We used the word 'committed' before the game and every one of them was committed. To play that team on even terms is a pretty special moment."
NOTES:The Avalanche went 1-for-5 on the power play and have scored with the man-advantage in five straight games; they have killed 19 straight chances over the past six games, their longest streak this season. … Vancouver forward Matthew Highmore left the game midway through the third period after a hit from Colorado defenseman Kurtis MacDermid. … Forward Brad Richardson and defenseman Travis Dermott each made his Canucks debut; Richardson, who was claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Monday, had one shot on goal in 15:25 of ice time. Dermott, who was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, was plus-1 in 15:43. … Forward Andrew Cogliano made his Avalanche debut after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Monday. He had one shot in 8:14. … Forward Artturi Lehkonen did not play for the Avalanche due to pending immigration clearance after the forward was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.