AP

Kuemper, MacKinnon lead Avalanche to 3-0 win over Flames

Mar 13, 2022, 7:50 AM | Updated: 8:45 pm

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, second from left, redirects the puck as, from left to r...

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, second from left, redirects the puck as, from left to right, Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone, center Sean Monahan, Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin and Flames goaltender Dan Vladar jostle for position in the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)


              Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, second from left, redirects the puck as, from left to right, Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone, center Sean Monahan, Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin and Flames goaltender Dan Vladar jostle for position in the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, center, is congratulated by right wing Valeri Nichushkin, left, after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, covers the puck as Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, back right, slows down Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (28) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper cools down in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Colorado Avalanche center Darren Helm, center, fights for control of the puck as, from left to right, Calgary Flames defenseman Erik Gudbranson, goaltender Dan Vladar and defenseman Noah Hanifin protect the net in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar prepares for action in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau, front, picks up a loose puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper collects the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
            
              Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk, center, pursues the puck with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Murray, left, and center Nathan MacKinnon in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Darcy Kuemper had his own player screening his vision and was still able to lift his stick just enough to deflect a shot down low.

It was just that kind of night for the Colorado Avalanche goaltender.

Kuemper stopped a career-best 46 shots in his fourth shutout of the season, Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and the Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday.

“I liked his game a lot,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of Kuemper. “He was sharp from start to finish.”

That’s a stark contrast to last weekend against the Flames when Kuemper wasn’t sharp and pulled early in the second period as Calgary claimed a 4-3 overtime win.

“Definitely a different outcome, for sure,” Kuemper cracked. “Winning’s a lot more fun, for sure. It was a big win for us.”

MacKinnon scored on a power play in the first period and added another goal in the third. Mikko Rantanen sealed it on an empty-net tally with 1:38 remaining to help the Avalanche post their best record through 60 games in franchise history (42-13-5, 89 points).

Dan Vladar made 29 saves in a match between the top two teams in the Western Conference.

The Flames were playing the second game of a back-to-back, but hardly looked sluggish and controlled the tempo early in the game. They also had double the shots of Colorado in the third period.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “No issues with our game at all.”

Kuemper came up with timely save after timely save Sunday, including a blind block with his stick in the third as teammate Kurtis MacDermid fell into him.

Even Kuemper’s not quite sure how he stopped that.

“I felt something — I don’t know if it was ‘Dermi’ hitting me or the puck,” said Kuemper, who earned his career-best 28th win of the season. “I was just trying to sprawl out and get over there the best I could.”

The Flames stayed in the game during the second period thanks to Vladar. He stopped a wide-open shot by Erik Johnson by sliding over and deflecting the puck with his left pad.

About 15 seconds later, Andre Burakovsky dinged a shot off the post. And then, he faced a goaltender’s nightmare: MacKinnon open in front of the net. But Vladar’s arm blocked his shot.

Kuemper also came up big on a 2-on-1 break by the Flames.

MacKinnon scored his 20th goal of the season on a wrist shot that got by Vladar midway through the first period to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. The Avalanche thought they added another a few minutes later when Alex Newhook’s shot beat Vladar, clanging off one post and then the other.

Newhook even lifted his stick in celebration as the goal-horn sounded, but the official motioned to keep playing. Replays showed the puck never crossed the line.

The best save of the opening period was turned in by Colorado defenseman Devon Toews after a shot by Elias Lindholm trickled toward the net. Toews reached behind Kuemper and knocked it away.

“A disappointing loss,” Flames defenseman Christopher Tanev said. “Tight game, playoff-like game. Came down to a few little things that they did better than us to win the game.”

MISSING CAPTAIN

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is slated for knee surgery Monday. He has a team-most 30 goals this season.

“He’s a big part of us,” Rantanen said. “Obviously, when you lose your captain, other guys have to step up.”

INJURY REPORT

Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram (personal leave) has been skating with the team. Fellow blue-liner Samuel Girard is expected to be out about a month with a lower-body injury. … Flames D Oliver Kylington missed a second straight game with a lower-body injury.

UP NEXT

Flames: Host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

Avalanche: Start a two-game trip Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Kings.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Kuemper, MacKinnon lead Avalanche to 3-0 win over Flames