Alex Tanguay skated a rainbow-shaped loop through the neutral zone and found gold on the other end — the Avalanche’s best goal of the season.
His one-man, short-handed effort in the second period Tuesday in Denver brought the Avs back to even after San Jose dominated them through nearly 30 minutes.
It was Tanguay’s team-high fourth goal this season. He’s on a six-game points streak.
And the 34-year-old veteran, after a lost season because of injuries, is helping keep the struggling Avalanche from sinking this season.
“I knew there was going to be some adjustment, not having played last year, Tanguay said. “I’m still trying to find my way a little bit.”
If Tanguay is finding his way this season, he found one route Tuesday with that goal. It was a sneaky, veteran move that caught San Jose looking like peewee players.
Tanguay had just backchecked the puck away from San Jose. Colorado was a man-down defending a power play. Job well done. So he sprinted toward the bench for a line change.
But instead of skating a straight line, he circled back toward the Sharks’ zone. Erik Johnson lobbed him the puck. Tanguay caught it with his glove.
And with the patience of a 15-year NHL veteran — he was a rookie with the Avs in 1999 — Tanguay put the puck away. He bypassed Brent Burns at the blue line. He caught Logan Couture flat-footed — the Sharks’ 25-year-old was following Tanguay to the bench for a breather — and broke toward the net.
Then Tanguay floated around goaltender Antti Niemi for a sure-shot wrister. It looked like a planned and drawn-up play.
“I’d like to say ‘yes'” it was a plan, Colorado coach Patrick Roy said. “I would look like a genius today. But it was not.”
It was all Tanguay.
“That play had great IQ,” Roy said. “Came down, grabbing the puck, patience around the net. That’s experience.”
In his first six seasons in the NHL, all with the Avs, Tanguay netted 137 goals and 400 points in 450 games. He was an all-star with Colorado in 2004.
He was their second-leading scorer in 2006 behind Joe Sakic when the Avs traded Tanguay to Calgary. But after seven years away with Calgary, Montreal and Tampa Bay, Sakic and the Avs brought Tanguay back via trade in 2013.
But with knee and hip injuries, Tanguay played only 16 games last season. He’s now 10 games into this season and already in form.
“There are still things that I feel I’m not as sharp as I need to be with,” Tanguay said. “I’ve been working extremely hard at practice to get my game back to the level that I feel I can play at and help this team more.”
Roy remembers Tanguay’s ability as a rookie and the Colorado coach said he can see Tanguay’s age showing, in a positive way.
“He’s a different player than when he was a rookie for us,” Roy said. “Obviously his experience helps him a lot. He’s playing a different game.
“Alex has great IQ, his hockey sense is very good. It really helps him right now.”
Tanguay, one of only five Avs born in the 1970s, is tied with 21-year-old Gabe Landeskog for the team lead with four goals. And his six points match 23-year-old Ryan O’Reilly as second-best on the team.
“I’m going to keep working,” Tanguay said. “I know there’s a lot of improvement left in my game.”
Nick Groke: twitter.com/nickgroke or ngroke@denverpost.com
N.Y. ISLANDERS AT COLORADO
7 p.m. Thursday, ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on Brock Nelson: The Islanders’ second-year center is demonstrating some kind of anti-sophomore slump. Nelson, a first-round draft pick (30th overall) in 2010, has 12 points in nine games — tied with teammate John Tavares for fifth-most in the NHL. Nelson, 23, has a goal and an assist in each of the last two games.
NOTEBOOK
Avalanche: Colorado called up forward Dennis Everberg, 22, from the Lake Erie Monsters to add forward depth. He takes the roster spot left open by center Jesse Winchester, who continues to recover from concussion symptoms. The Avs may also add defenseman Ryan Wilson (shoulder) to the injured reserve list.
Islanders: In nine games, New York has allowed fewer than three goals in a game just once — a 3-2 win at Boston. The Isles, in first place in the East’s Metropolitan Division, have allowed 31 goals, one fewer than the struggling Avs. … After the Isles’ 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in New York on Tuesday, the New York Daily News used its headline to make fun of the 1-7 New York Jets. It read: “The Jets can win in New York.”
Footnotes: Patrick Roy gave his team a practice breather Wednesday and they didn’t skate. The Avs instead did off-ice strength work and Roy remained optimistic with his two-win team. “There’s nothing wrong with going through some adversity right now and learning how to win those close games. It’s part of the process,” he said.
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
