Sluggish Avalanche out for revenge against Maple Leafs

The Colorado Avalanche will be out to avenge a Jan. 12 loss when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for a rematch Sunday afternoon.

The Maple Leafs defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime to open a 2-1-1 road trip in the first meeting of the season between the teams.

Both clubs are in need of a win Sunday.

Toronto is winless (0-2-1) in three games since returning from its trip after a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

The Avalanche completed a 3-2-2 homestand after a 7-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday before embarking on a four-game trip that starts in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs have failed to take advantage of their homestand so far, falling behind 4-1 against Vegas. They scored late in the second period to cut the lead to 4-3 before Vegas regained control of the game.

"That bothers me more than anything," Toronto coach Craig Berube said. "We have the momentum, and it doesn't look like we carried the momentum into the third period. This team played last night in Boston, and we have an opportunity to really put the pressure on them in the third period.

"I get starting slow sometimes, but for me, the third period when the game is right there for us, and we have the momentum, we have to push."

Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz played for the first time since Nov. 11 after being out with a nerve issue. He made 25 saves after having no chance in allowing a goal on the first shot he faced.

"You forget about the goals, and you just try to focus on the next shot," Stolarz said. "That's your job. What it boiled down to was, I just didn't make a timely save to swing the momentum. I just have to get back to work (Saturday) and try to find it."

Dennis Hildeby, who had done well in sharing the goaltending with Joseph Woll, was assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

The Avalanche were tied 3-3 with the Flyers after two periods Friday. Philadelphia scored four unanswered goals in the third period.

"It felt like we had all the momentum coming out of the second," Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said. "I thought we were going to have a good start to the third. I don't know if we were just looking for offense and nobody wanted to play defense or what, but we'll definitely take a look at it. That was unacceptable for the most part."

"I don't know what happened at the start there," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Mismanaging the puck and then not heading to the right spots. The start of the third was horrible."

Bednar is looking for improvement from goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who allowed six goals on 19 shots. The final Flyers goal was into an empty net.

Blackwood has allowed 11 goals in his two starts since returning from a lower-body injury.

"He has to get in the groove," Bednar said. "He hasn't played enough hockey. He's got to get going. There's no question he can play a lot better than what we've seen over the last couple games. We're going to need him to."

--Field Level Media