News - Local
Avs beat Canucks to clinch playoff spot
Posted: Apr 6, 2010 11:54 PM
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Rookie Matt Duchene used a strong deke to the forehand to score the only goal of a shootout and put the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs with a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
Craig Anderson stopped 28 shots through overtime and all three in the shootout as the Avalanche secured a postseason spot that seemed a stretch for a young team that finished last in the Western Conference last season.
Darcy Tucker, T.J. Galiardi and Paul Stastny scored for Colorado, which had lost a season high four straight, including a key one to ninth-place Calgary, before rallying to beat San Jose in overtime Sunday.
The Avalanche then ended a four-game road skid by handing the Canucks their ninth home loss and eliminating the Flames, who lost to 2-1 San Jose earlier.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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