Necas Adds an Empty-Net Dagger as Colorado Cruises Past Tampa Bay
Two even-strength assists and a late goal into the open cage send the Avalanche to a 6-3 win and end a two-game skid.
Martin Necas finished with a goal and two assists in Colorado's 6-3 win over Tampa Bay, and he was plus 4 on the night.
His two assists came at even strength. The goal came at 17:19 of the third period, into an empty net, so it was the finishing touch on a game already well in hand. He took just one shot on goal, and that was the empty-netter.
He played 16:32 over 20 shifts. That ranked 10th among the team's 18 skaters and fourth among its 12 forwards, and it was below his season average of 20.1 minutes a game. He also blocked two shots and had one giveaway.
Three points is a step up for him. He came in with 14 points in 11 games, so this was above his usual pace. It also helped the Avalanche (5-4-1) snap a two-game losing streak against a Lightning team that had won three straight.
More from this game
- Individual Player PerformanceGuentzel Keeps Pumping Pucks at the Net for Tampa Bay
- Player Game InsightKucherov Held Off the Sheet as Colorado Pulls Away
- Player Game InsightBurns Quietly Fills the Defensive Ledger in Colorado's Win Over Tampa Bay
- Player Game InsightMacKinnon Sets Table and Cashes In as Avalanche Pull Away From Lightning