The Colorado Avalanche extended their impressive winning streak to six games with a decisive 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on March 17, 2024. The Avalanche, currently leading the NHL with a record of 13-1-5, demonstrated their dominance with a strong second period, scoring two goals within just 1:19 to take control of the match.
The first period saw the Islanders take an early lead, with Emil Heineman finding the back of the net just 2:05 into the game. Heineman’s goal came when a shot from Tony DeAngelo deflected off his skate and past Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood. Colorado contested the goal, claiming that Heineman had used a kicking motion, but the officials allowed it to stand.
The Avalanche responded in the second period, with Ross Colton equalizing at 4:32, marking his third goal of the season. Just over a minute later, Victor Oloffson redirected a shot from Sam Malinski past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead. The Avalanche cemented their control of the game in the final moments, with Brock Nelson and Martin Necas adding goals in the last minute, including Necas’s empty-netter.
Wedgewood earned his victory with a total of 28 saves, while Sorokin stopped 25 shots for New York. Notably, Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL in scoring, was held without a point for the first time in 12 games, highlighting the Islanders’ defensive efforts despite the loss.
The game also marked a special moment for the Avalanche, as they paid tribute to Patrick Roy, the Islanders’ current head coach. Roy, a Hall of Famer, began his illustrious career in Montreal and was traded to the Avalanche in December 1995. He played a pivotal role in guiding Colorado to its first Stanley Cup title just six months later and returned as head coach in 2013, leading the team to a remarkable 112-point finish in his first season.
Looking ahead, the Islanders will face the Dallas Stars on March 19, 2024, while the Avalanche are set to host the New York Rangers on March 21, 2024. Both teams will aim to build on their recent performances as the NHL season progresses.
