The Panthers took the ice shorthanded for a full two minutes as the second period started. The Panthers kept the Avalanche running up and down the ice for most of the power play, clearing the puck four times before Colorado managed to get set up, then once again to kill it off.
Colorado tied it with seven minutes gone in the period when Peter Mueller went five hole on Jose Theodore off an uncontrolled rebound. Erik Johnson got the only assist on the score. It was Mueller’s first goal in almost two years, as he missed the entire 2010-11 season with a concussion.
Jose Theodore kept the Panthers in it with several big saves on a barrage of shots by the Avalanche at the 13 minute mark.
Stephen Weiss split two Avalanche defensemen and scored what appeared to be the go ahead marker for the Panthers with just over a minute left in the period. Weiss was falling down at the time, and the play was reviewed because it appeared that Weiss may have pushed it in with his hand. After a lengthy wait, the call on ice was upheld, and Weiss had his 12th goal of the season. Dmitry Kulikov and Brian Campbell earned assists on the play, it was Kulikov’s second helper of the night.
Hits: Avalanche, 10-8
Blocked Shots: Panthers, 15-12
Faceoffs: Avalanche, 19-13
Shots On Goal: Avalanche, 25-19
Score: Panthers 2, Avalanche 1