miaowang123: him down and he was caught on the final climb,

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DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche didnt need a shootout to get off to their best start in franchise history. Tyler Johnson Jersey . When they faced one, they were once again successful. Ryan OReilly scored the only goal in the shootout, Semyon Varlamov stopped 35 shots and the Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Saturday night. Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon had a goal apiece to help the Avalanche sweep the home-and-home series with the Wild. "It was a good couple games against Minny, they obviously play a pretty tough game," MacKinnon said. "own low, theyre tough to defend. Its always nice to get on the board a little bit, but obviously getting two wins is huge for us." Colorado and the New York Rangers were the only teams to yet have a game decided in a shootout before Saturday. Despite their lack of experience, the Avalanche came out on top. "I was) nervous, same as usually," Varlamov said. "Nobody, none of the goalies, nobody likes the shootouts." John Mitchell added two assists for Colorado, which won a rare penalty-free game. "I was a little bit (surprised) considering how much time was spent in the offensive zone," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said regarding the lack of penalty calls. Mikko Koivu and Matt Cooke scored goals and Josh Harding stopped 23 shots for the Wild. Minnesota has dominated the Avalanche in Colorado since the 2007-08 season. The Wild came into Saturday with a 12-2-2 record since midway through that season, and they had won six of their past seven at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche looked as if they would win comfortably despite Minnesota carrying the play when Cooke spoiled the shutout bid with 3:27 left to make it 2-1. "I think we had five or six grade-A chances in the first period alone and sometimes thats frustrating," Cooke said. "But its up to us to just try to keep each other positive and the fact that were getting those scoring opportunities is a good thing. We just need to stay on it." Harding came off for an extra skater in the final minute, and Koivu beat Varlamov on a slap shot with six seconds left to send the game into overtime. "Nobody wants to give up a goal with 4 seconds left," Varlamov said. "The third period we sat back the last 10 minutes and they started to get more chances around the net and that is why we gave up two goals. It is what it is. We were able to get two points." Neither team could score in the extra period, sending the Avalanche to their first shootout of the season. Despite never having competed in an NHL shootout -- or coaching in one -- coach Patrick Roy didnt hesitate in picking his shooters. He chose the only players to score in one in the teams last practice. "It made it kind of easy," Roy said. Harding made saves on P.A. Parenteau and MacKinnon before OReilly broke through. Jason Pominville couldnt match the goal and Minnesota lost for the second straight night. "I just tried to open up my blade and try to look like I was going to shoot it and kind of put it through," OReilly said. For Minnesota, getting a point after trailing late was some consolation. "Thats a huge point for us. It was great the way we played the game," Yeo said. "We lost the skill competition at the end of the game, the shootout, whatever you want to call it. Bottom line I really believe we deserved the win in regulation." Coming off a tough loss to Colorado in St. Paul on Friday night, Minnesota was looking to get even but Saturdays game started like Fridays ended. Landeskog, who sealed Fridays 3-1 win with an empty-net goal, gave the Avalanche the early lead when his backhand from the side of the net deflected off Harding and into the goal 2:22 into the game. It was his ninth goal of the season. The Wild nearly tied it later in the first when Cookes backhand slipped under Varlamov and lay on the goal line for a moment and the goalie covered it up. It was reviewed and determined the puck never completely crossed the line. Minnesota had another great chance in the second period when Torrey Mitchell got ahead of the defence, took a pass from Cooke and had a breakaway on Varlamov. The goalie stopped the backhander to preserve the one-goal lead. "Some nights you get a hot goalie and we surely did that tonight," Koivu said. Colorado added to the lead later in the second when Marco Scandella turned it over in his own end. Mitchell got the puck to a wide-open MacKinnon, and the rookie beat Harding with a wrister at 12:56 of the period. It was his fifth goal of the season. NOTES: It was the second time in the Colorado/Quebec franchise history that the team played a penalty-free game. The other happened April 9, 2000, against Detroit. ... Mitchell reached 100 career points with his two assists. ... Wild LW Zach Parise played in his second straight game after missing one with a foot contusion. ... Avalanche C Paul Stastny returned after missing two games due to back spasms. Justise Winslow Jersey . 1-9 on TSN. With more than 65 hours of exclusive live coverage, TSN delivers all the action beginning with Draw 1 on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p. Shaquille ONeal Jersey .Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday.VIGGIANO, Italy -- A powerful final burst from Diego Ulissi helped the Italian cyclist win the fifth stage of the Giro dItalia on Wednesday, while Australian rider Michael Matthews retained the overall leaders pink jersey. Ulissi came from behind with 150 metres to go to cross the line solo, with his arms raised high in celebration at the end of the 203-kilometre (126-mile) leg from Taranto to Viggiano. Australias Cadel Evans was second, with Julian David Arredondo Moreno of Colombia third, both of them in a group which crossed a second behind Ulissi in the first uphill finish of this years Giro. "Starting as the big favourite is always difficult. I showed I was ready," Ulissi said. "So Im enjoying this moment. I wanted this win too against the big names who were up there in the finale of the stage." Weather again played a part, with wet and windy conditions, although there was sunshine on the five-kilometre (three-mile) climb to the finish. Matthews fought hard to stay near the front in the final kilometre and finished sixth. He will wear the pink jersey for a fourth day, a record for an Australian cyclist. The Orica-GreenEdge rider extended his lead to 14 seconds, with Dutchman Pieter Weening moving into second spot. Evans is third. "I think the boys rode really well alll day, they worked hard to keep me out of the wind and of problems," Matthews said. Alonzo Mourning Jersey. "I still havent won a stage, which I really wanted, but Im still in the pink jersey and well try again to fight to win tomorrows stage." Former champion Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria is 69th while Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., is 171st. There was an early break of 11 riders and, although their lead rose and fell at several points, the Orica-led peloton was happy to control the gap to an average of four minutes. There were several attempted breaks up front with 30km (18.6 miles) to go, but none stuck and the group was back together on the penultimate climb -- the first ascent up to Viggiano -- just before the slippery roads caused the first big crash of the day. There were several more crashes as the rain made the tight and technical descent even trickier. Gianluca Brambilla attacked bravely on the descent, opening up a 30-second advantage, but Joaquin Rodriguezs Katusha team chased him down and he was caught on the final climb, setting up the scintillating finish. Thursdays stage is another hilly finish, up to Monte Cassino, the site of a major World War II battle. At 247km (153.5 miles), it is the second longest stage of this years race. The Giro ends in Trieste on June 1. Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Authentic Jerseys China Jerseys NFL Jerseys From ChinaJerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Jerseys 2020 Cheap Authentic Jerseys ' ' '