The Colorado Avalanche were busy with four games in seven days last week – splitting the contests with a 2-2-0 record. The club started the week with a 3-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Blues in St. Louis, but bounced back at home to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime, then snuck out a 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers, and finally dropped the last contest of their three-game homestand with a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.
The Avalanche had a chance to have substantial week that they could build off of moving forward, but blew it by allowing the game-winning goal with just 61 seconds remaining on Sunday night. Brad Stuart, Tyson Barrie, and Matt Duchene stood out as the Avalanche’s three stars for the week ending on Jan. 4:
First Star ★ Brad Stuart, Defense
Stuart – who returned after missing 16 games with a hamstring injury on Dec. 18 – looked the best he has in an Avalanche sweater since the club acquired him and signed him to a contract extension in the offseason. The veteran defenseman, who had only two points on the season coming into the week, tied for the team lead with three assists while registering a team-leading 19 hits on the week. The surprise first star selection added four blocks and a +1 plus/minus rating while averaging over 22 minutes on the ice per contest. Stuart picked up his second two-point game of the season against the Flyers by registering two assists – including one on Ryan O’Reilly’s game-winner late in the overtime period. The 35-year-old played in the 1000th game of his career in December. He has five assists and a +3 plus/minus rating in nine games since returning to the lineup. “It’s big,” coach Patrick Roy said. “[Stuart’s] playing really well. He’s helped Zach [Redmond] or Nick [Holden], depending on who his partner is. He’s been very solid for us. He’s capable of taking a lot of responsibility.”
Second Star ★ Tyson Barrie, Defense
Barrie shook himself out of an offensive drought with assists in each of the last three games (which ties his career high for consecutive games with an assist) to tie Stuart for the team with three points on the week. The young blue-liner led the Avalanche with a +4 plus/minus rating. He teamed up with Ryan O’Reilly for a beautiful back-and-fourth passing play before O’Reilly one-timed the game-winner into the back of the net in overtime against the Flyers. “We’re playing better hockey now and we’re looking forward to a better 2015,” Barrie said. The 23-year-old leads the team with 21 assists and is just one point off of the team lead with 24 points on the season.
Third Star ★ Matt Duchene, Center
Duchene registered two assists on the week and added a huge goal in the shootout against the Oilers to help the Avalanche secure the victory. He has points in each of the last two games, but it should still be noted that the offensive star hasn’t scored a goal in 10 consecutive games. Duchene made a great play with the puck to create the Colorado’s only regulation goal against Edmonton. He circled the net before sliding the puck across the crease on his backhand to Daniel Briere for an easy tap-in goal. Duchene went on to display his patience in the shootout – dangling Ben Scrivens and moving the puck around the goalie’s sprawled body for the goal. “I think the biggest thing is each goalie has a different style and I just tried to get him to bite and make him change direction,” Duchene said of the goal. He has 23 points in 39 games on the season.