Pro Sports

Avalanche end skid, beat Lightning 2-1

Posted October 30, 2015 7:00 am

By MARK DIDTLER

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1), of Russia, makes a save on a shot by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Colorado Avalanche put together a strong all-around game to end a slide.

Alex Tanguay and Nathan MacKinnon each had a goal and an assist, Semyon Varlamov made 34 saves and the Avalanche beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday night to end a four-game losing streak.

Varlamov won his 108th game with the Avalanche and moved past Dan Bouchard into second place on the franchise wins list. Jarome Iginla had two assists to move past Phil Housley (1,232) into sole possession of 38th place with 1,233 points in his career.

"He was our first star tonight," Colorado center Matt Duchene said of Varlamov.

Tampa Bay, coming off a 1-1-2 road trip, got a goal from Alex Killorn.

Tanguay opened the scoring during a goal-mouth scramble with 4:03 left in the first. A no-goal call on the ice was overturned after a video review.

The Avalanche made it 2-0 with 6:56 left in the second after Iginla sent a pass from behind net off goalie Ben Bishop that MacKinnon put into the net from in-close.

Roy put the 20-year old MacKinnon on a line with veterans Iginla (38) and Tanguay (35).

"It's a good mix regardless how old we are," MacKinnon said. "We seem to mesh pretty well."

MacKinnon has five goals and 10 points in five games against the Lightning.

Killorn got the Lightning within 2-1 during a power play with 4:14 left in the second. It ended a scoreless stretch of 156 minutes, 3 seconds for Tampa Bay, which had consecutive road shutout losses at Chicago and St. Louis.

"If they weren't frustrated, I'd probably have a little bit of an issue," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of the recent offensive woes. "They're frustrated like we all are."

Tampa Bay center Tyler Johnson, who played most of last season's Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Blackhawks with a broken wrist, has not scored a goal in 11 games this season. Team captain Steven Stamkos has five goals, but none over the last four games.

Varlamov stopped a short-handed breakaway shot late in the first by Valtteri Filppula. The goalie also made a save on Ondrej Palat's breakaway early in the third.

"He seemed really under control," Roy said. "He had a strong night from the start to the end. He made some great saves."

Bishop stopped 24 shots.

NOTES: Roy is 1-1-1 in road games at Tampa Bay. He never won a road game as a goalie against the Lightning during his Hall of Fame playing career, going 0-7-1. ... Lightning LW Jonathan Drouin was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. ... Tampa Bay C Cedric Paquette missed his second straight game due to an ankle injury. ... Cooper said Drouin and Paquette are doubtful for Saturday night's game against Boston. ... Lightning C Brian Boyle returned after missing three games with an undisclosed injury. ... Tampa Bay recalled C Jonathan Marchessault from Syracuse of the AHL.

Colorado Avalanche left wing Alex Tanguay, right, celebrates with teammate center Nathan MacKinnon after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92), of Sweden, moves the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1), of Russia, makes a save on a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

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