Defenseman Francois Beauchemin scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal late in the third period, Semyon Varlamov stopped 33 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat the New York Islanders 2-1 Thursday night for their fourth straight win.
Beauchemin was in the corner when he sent a puck in front of the net that bounced off the skate of Islanders center Mikhail Grabovski and caromed past goaltender Thomas Greiss with 3:48 remaining. Beauchemin also scored in the opening period.
After winning three straight on the road, the Avalanche kept it up at home — a place where they've struggled — improving to 5-7-1 at Pepsi Center this season.
Varlamov kept up his torrid play, too, earning the victory for a fifth straight start. He's allowed five goals during the streak.
Brock Nelson scored a power play goal for the Islanders, who beat Colorado 5-3 in New York on Nov. 30.
The Islanders pulled Greiss with around 1:40 remaining for an extra skater, but couldn't get anything past Varlamov.
Nelson tied the game with a power play goal at 4:55 of the second period as he sent a wrist shot past a screened Varlamov.
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A few minutes later, the Islanders caught a break when a puck that was headed into the net hit off the skate of defenseman Calvin de Haan, who was stationed right next to the left post.
Beauchemin scored early in the first on a shot from near the blue line that sailed over the right shoulder of Greiss.
The defenseman was back on the ice two days after taking a big hit in a win at Chicago. Beauchemin insisted after the morning skate that he was feeling fine.
Varlamov was stellar in the opening period as he stopped 14 shots, including one down low from Ryan Strome. Varlamov is returning to the form that made him tough to beat two years ago.
