Colorado Avalanche Tickets - Avs Beat Lightning In So

Wojtek Wolski scored the only goal in a shootout

, Craig Anderson made three saves against Tampa Bay's shooters and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1. Get Colarado Avalanche tickets and see Wolski score the game winner. Wolski had the Avalanche's only regulation goal, and Anderson stopped 21 shots to help snap a three-game home losing streak. After the game, Wolski said the team has been "snakebitten" lately, but they "really put the effort" in tonight's game.

Antero Niittymaki made 33 saves, and Steve Downie scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have dropped seven of their last eight games. Although Colorado outshot Tampa Bay 26-12 in the first period, the Lightning took a 1-0 lead. Anderson saved shots by Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, but the rebound came out to Downie, who netted his sixth goal of the season with 7:48 left in the first period. Colorado had a chance to tie the game with a power play late in the first period, but couldn't cash in on the man advantage.

Both teams had several good chances to score in the second period. Colorado's Paul Stastny nearly tied the game midway through the second, but Niittymaki made a crucial save with his shoulder. The Avalanche continued to attack the Lightning, but they couldn't get the equalizer. Tampa Bay did not play disciplined hockey in the third period and took consecutive minors, giving Colorado two power-play opportunities.

The Avalanche had six shots on goal with the man advantage, but still they couldn't get the tying goal. With 7:49 left in regulation, Stastny drove down the left boards and fed a centering pass that deflected off Wolksi's leg and went past Niittymaki. It was Wolksi's 12th goal of the season.

Wolksi told the press, "Sometimes you just have to go to the net and get a lucky bounce. I've had so many chances in the last little while and they're not going in. Sometimes you just have to get the ugly ones." The way Niittymaki was playing, the Avalanche needed a lucky bounce. The Tampa Bay goaltender had 18 saves in the third period alone.

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet admitted, "You knew they were going to come, we just didn't have an answer for them." The coach continued to say the only answer the Lightning had was Niittymaki.

Tampa Bay could have gone up 2-0 in the second period. The Lightning had an odd-man rush late in the frame, but Anderson made a save on Lecavalier to keep the Avalanche within a goal. Lecavalier thought there was an opening on the low blocker, but when the forward released his shot, Anderson made the save with his blocker.

Anderson was playing for the first time since suffering a neck injury against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 2. The goaltender only faced five shots in the third period and overtime. Anderson acknowledged that "the toughest job is when you don't see a lot of shots." The Avalanche went 154 minutes without scoring a goal at home before Wolski recorded his goal in the third. Colorado is 3-5 in shootouts this season, while Tampa Bay is 1-6.

by: Brent Warnken

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