In a closely contested hockey match, the Colorado Avalanche (Avs) and the St. Louis Blues ended the first period tied at 1-1. Colorado's Ryan Johansen scored the opening goal, his 11th of the year, after sustained offensive zone time and a lost board battle by Sundqvist/Blais of the Blues, giving the Avs a 1-0 lead. However, the Blues responded with a shorthanded goal by Robert Thomas to level the score. Despite the Avalanche having more penalties and fewer shots on goal, the game remained even. The Blues had a significant 10-4 shot advantage, but both teams struggled with puck management and missed opportunities. The Avs, who have been underperforming in terms of creating scoring chances, managed only five through the first two periods, which is far below their season-low of 21. The game's tension was heightened by a penalty for too many men on the ice against the Avs with just over a minute left in the second period. The Avs' season-low for shot attempts is 41, and their fourth-lowest is 49, but they had only 24 through two periods, pending any stat changes.
#Avs season-low for scoring chances, per @NatStatTrick, is 21. They have five (5) through 40 minutes tonight. And it's still a 1-1 game, somehow. One good stretch from being 3-0-1 in the past four games.
#Avs season low for shot attempts is 41. That was Dec. 23 against Arizona. Their fourth-lowest is 49, which was two nights ago. They have 24 through two periods, pending any stat changes. They need a big third for this not be a third-straight bottom-five output of the year.
#Avs played 38 minutes and had nine shots on goal. That doesn't happen very often. That's not even the most concerning thing. The puck mismanagement thing still seems very much like A Thing. Georgiev has been good ... but the Blues have to feel like they should have 3-4 goals.
#avs too many men with 1:01 left in the second. #stlblues
After one, #stlblues and #avs tied 1-1. Johansen for Avs, Thomas (SHG) for Blues. Shots are 10-4 in favor of STL.
Robert Thomas backhand on a breakaway. The Scorin' Shorthanded Blues are back. Tied at 1.
Ryan Johansen shovels home the rebound for his 11th goal of the year, giving Colorado the 1-0 lead! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/57R3IkPFVj
Lots and lots of O-zone time for Colorado, which results in a goal for Johansen, 1-0. Sundqvist/Blais lost a board battle that allowed the Avs to keep the puck, but there were plenty other miscues leading up to that. #stlblues
The #Avs have more penalties taken (2) in the first nine minutes of this game than goals disallowed (1) and shots on goal (0) combined. Also, the Blues have had 3-4 wide open looks in the danger area and can't hit the net. None of these are particularly good for the visitors.