NHL Monday: Avalanche top Penguins; goalies stellar in Detroit

If you like great goaltending then Monday night was made just for you.

Avalanche 1, Penguins 0

“Mike plays a speed game and fits the ‘Fast, Hard and Supportive’ mantra that our team wants to play with,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a team statement. “He is a player with tremendous character, knows the Western Conference well and brings a tough, physical ingredient to our line-up.”

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The first two games on Monday night belonged to the goaltenders.

Bertuzzi has always been a great option in the shootout for Detroit and has some incredible hands, and all of that was on display here.

First, that’s a great saucer pass from Crosby to drop it right onto Kunitz’s blade. But that save ... my goodness. It’ was that sort of night for Giguere and the Avalanche.

Giguere ended up stopping all 34 shots he faced in a 1-0 win for the Avalanche in a game they were absolutely dominated in at even-strength, only to win because of their great penalty killing and goaltending.

That is apparently a pretty big deal to the fine folks of Cole Harbour, and everybody else that covers the NHL.

Late in the second period Cole Harbour’s two favorite players were able to go up against each other one-on-one and MacKinnon was able to find out what it’s like to see the best player in the world up close.

Grabner was not penalized for the hit that occurred early in the first period of Saturday’s game.

Here is a look at the play, as well as the league’s explanation for the suspension.

Kronwall had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher following the hit, and McLeod was ejected and given a five-minute major penalty. Monday he had an in-person hearing with the league, which gave the league the opportunity to suspend him for more than five games. The suspension is the same one St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre received for his hit on San Jose’s Dan Boyle.

As a result of the suspension, McLeod will have to forfeit $29,487.20 in salary.

Well, Crosby is on fire. The Penguins captain has registered at least one point in every game this season and has averaged three points over his last four games. He enters Monday night’s game with a league leading 17 points and also leads the league in goals (seven) and assists (10).

Pittsburgh has dominated at Consol Energy Center this season, registering a 5-0-0 record on home ice. On Monday, the club attempts to continue that trend against Colorado.

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