Avalanche nip Blues, end winless skid in road games

Devon Toews scored the game-winning goal late in the third period as the visiting Colorado Avalanche edged the St. Louis Blues 2-1 Friday night.

Ryan Johansen also scored and Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves for the Avalanche, who snapped their six-game road winless streak (0-3-3).

Robert Thomas scored and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves for the Blues, who lost for just the second time in seven games under interim coach Drew Bannister.

Blues defenseman Marco Scandella exited the game in the third period when Colorado forward Andrew Cogliano accidentally hit him in the eye area with his stick while following through with a shot.

Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson stepped into the slot and appeared to score a goal in the first period, but the Blues erased it with a successful challenge for goaltender interference. Upon further review, Colorado's Kurtis MacDermid had skated into the crease and bumped into Binnington as Manson shot the puck.

The Blues held the Avalanche to one shot on goal for the first 15 minutes of the game before Johansen put Colorado up 1-0 with 4:49 left in the first period. Jonathan Drouin fired a shot from the right wall and Johansen chopped in the rebound for his 200th career goal.

Thomas tied the game 1-1 on a short-handed goal with 3:29 left in the period. He intercepted a pass by Nathan MacKinnon at the blue line and converted his breakaway.

The Blues held the Avalanche to 11 shots on goal through the first two periods.

Colorado winger Mikko Rantanen had an excellent chance to break the tie during the scoreless second period, but he hit the post while shooting at the open right side of the net.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was awarded a penalty shot with 12:04 left in regulation time, but Binnington denied him with a glove save.

The Avalanche took the lead with 2:54 left in the game when Toews fired a slap shot through traffic and past Binnington from the center point.