DENVER — The Blues’ weekend series with the Avalanche always figured to be a high-risk, high-reward production. The way the Avalanche (very good) and the Blues (not very good) had been playing, expectations were low for the Blues against one of the best teams in the league after they had managed just one of four points against the Ducks, one of the worst teams in the league, the previous weekend.
But if they won, that would be something.
The Blues, winless in five games and in 10 of their past 12, and who started the day in fifth place in the West Division, took a 1-1 tie into the third period, giving them 20 minutes to render the trip a success or a failure and possibly set the tone for the final month of the season. The Avalanche had the better of the play in the period, with more of the puck and more of the chances, but the Blues defense held until 40.1 seconds remained when a shot by defenseman Cale Makar from the blueline found its way through traffic, and maybe off someone else, to give the Avalanche a 2-1 win over the Blues on Saturday night.
