Avalanche remain on track for lowest point percentage in shootout era

The Colorado Avalanche are historically bad.

Following Saturday's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets, the Avalanche fell to 17-43-3 through 63 games, and are trending toward the worst season of any team in the shootout era.

Team Season Record Point %
Colorado Avalanche 2016-17 17-43-3 .294
Buffalo Sabres 2013-14 21-51-10 .317
Buffalo Sabres 2014-15 23-51-8 .329
Philadelphia Flyers 2006-07 22-48-12 .341
Arizona Coyotes 2014-15 24-50-8 .341

Related: Avalanche's Comeau bizarrely passes up breakaway

The modern point system was introduced at the beginning of the 2005-06 season after the lockout wiped out an entire season, and with it came a structure wherein teams earn points for losing in overtime or the shootout.

Those Buffalo teams directly ahead of this year's Avalanche were deep in the midst of a rebuild, with the latter roster seemingly constructed with the intent of making sure the club had the best possible chance of drafting at least Jack Eichel and hopefully Connor McDavid.

In short, it's no small feat to post a sub-.300 winning percentage in today's NHL, especially for a team not actively tanking.

Joe Sakic has said he remains committed to first-year head coach Jared Bednar despite the poor season, while the long-term futures of core players like Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene are up in the air after much trade talk prior to this year's deadline.

In the meantime, this seems like a lost season in Denver, with a top draft pick soon to be added to the mix.

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Goldobin beats Bishop on breakaway for 1st as a Canuck

Talk about making a good first impression.

Nikolay Goldobin picked up his first goal as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in his debut with his new club Saturday night. Goldobin turned on the jets before beating Los Angeles Kings goaltender Ben Bishop with a precise wrist shot midway through the second period.

It looks like Goldobin's a man of his word (or lack thereof):

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

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Vasilevskiy on Bishop: ‘He’ll stay in my heart forever’

Andrei Vasilevskiy will forever be indebted to Ben Bishop.

With the former Vezina Trophy winner now a member of the Los Angeles Kings - following a trade just days before the deadline - Vasilevskiy is now the Tampa Bay Lightning's No. 1 goalie, but he credits Bishop for acting as a mentor for him during his start in the league.

"When I first got here, I was looking at him like, 'This guy is the best goalie in the NHL,'" Vasilevskiy said, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I told him he's like my old brother, old teacher. I'm really thankful for him. He's a nice guy and unbelievable goalie. He'll stay in my heart forever."

While Vasilevskiy is now clearly the club's undisputed No. 1, the 22-year-old is adamant that he will not be taking the position for granted.

"I don't want to say, 'Bish is gone, I'm 100 percent No. 1,'" Vasilevskiy said. "I'm not going to (mess) around. I will work even more and show everybody that I deserve to be here and deserve to be the starting goalie."

Early on, Vasilevskiy appears to be living up to his word having gone a perfect 3-0-0 with a .949 save percentage since the Bishop trade.

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Watch: 3 slickest goals from Jets’ rout of Avalanche

The 2016-17 season continues to be a forgettable one for the Colorado Avalanche.

The latest iteration of misery for the maligned club came Saturday night in the form of a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets. With seven total goals in the spirited tilt, there were a few spectacular plays to get those in attendance on their feet.

(Spoiler alert: none of them came from Colorado).

Here's a look at the three best:

1. Chiarot flips in first of the season

With Winnipeg already leading 3-0, Nikolaj Ehlers decided to keep things rolling, flooring the Avalanche defense with a slap-shot fake and setting up Ben Chiarot, whose backhand flip earned him his first goal of the season.

2. Ehlers, Wheeler play catch

Two minutes after setting up Chiarot's second period tally, Ehlers added another point to his season total, tapping in Winnipeg's fifth following a tremendous setup from captain Blake Wheeler.

3. Patrik Laine: More than just an All-Star sniper

Patrik Laine has already established himself as one of the game's premier goal-scorers in his first NHL season, but the rookie phenom proved he's got far more in his toolbox than elite sniping skill. Linemate Mark Scheifele was the beneficiary, wiring home Laine's slick dish early on in the eventual drubbing.

All in all, a brilliant showing from Winnipeg, who earned six goals from six different scorers on the night. For Colorado? Time to call it a season.

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Senators’ Anderson has been best in NHL since return

Craig Anderson rises to the top.

The Ottawa Senators netminder has been the best in the league since returning from a leave of absence on Feb. 11.

In that stretch, Anderson has appeared in eight contests, owning the best save rate among goaltenders with as many starts.

Rank Goalie Starts Record GAA SV%
1 Craig Anderson 8 6-2-0 1.75 .946
2 Carey Price 8 5-3-0 1.72 .940
3 Cory Schneider 9 2-5-2 2.56 .924
4 Frederik Anderson 8 2-3-3 2.46 .921
5 Robin Lehner 10 5-3-2 2.68 .920

The veteran netminder took a leave of absence earlier this season to be with his ill wife. In 26 games, he has posted a 17-8-1 record with a .930 save percentage.

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Panarin rejects Kane’s kiss after setting up empty-net goal

Thanks, but no thanks, Patrick.

Patrick Kane's attempt to kiss Chicago Blackhawks linemate Artemi Panarin was rejected Saturday night.

Panarin made a nice move to set up the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner with an empty-net goal, but wasn't interested in his teammate's method of celebration.

Luckily for Kane, he'd already scored twice in the team's 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.

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Rowe: Panthers selfish in loss to Stars

Florida Panthers bench boss Tom Rowe sounded off Saturday following his team's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.

"We're being selfish, flying the defensive zone, and not paying attention to defensive assignments. That's what happens," Rowe told reporters.

The teams carried a 1-1 tie into the third period before Stars defenseman John Klingberg netted the game-winner with just 1:07 remaining.

Rowe was particularly displeased with Panthers forward Reilly Smith.

Saturday's defeat was a tough loss for the Panthers, who sit two points back of the New York Islanders for the final playoff spot in the East.

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Stamkos says Kucherov scored same ridiculous shootout goal in practice

Nikita Kucherov's insane shootout goal Saturday night was no accident.

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward scored the game-winner in the extra session, faking a deke and letting the puck slide past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner.

Related: Kucherov seals Lightning victory with cheeky shootout goal

Captain Steven Stamkos had seen the goal before, noting on Twitter that the 23-year-old was practicing the move during the week.

Head coach Jon Cooper reluctantly celebrated the daring display.

"Brought the school yard to the big stage and that was school yard ... but you better score on it," Cooper said, according to Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.

Even Lehner couldn't help but tip his hat.

"He did it on purpose," Lehner said, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. "What can I say? Bad by me, pretty sick by him."

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