wearing a backward cap

[ldh2013]

DENVER - Late comebacks and wins in extra time made the Colorado Avalanche the NHLs surprise team last year. .Struggling this season one point from the cellar of the Western Conferences Central Division, Colorado reverted to that winning formula on Thursday night. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist in regulation and got the decisive goal in the shootout, Calvin Pickard had 30 saves through overtime and stopped two more shots with the game on the line, and Colorado rallied to beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-3.It was huge, Pickard said. Weve been losing close games by one goal, and the difference between winning and losing is a small margin. We wanted to just stick with it for 60 minutes and we did right to the end.Ryan OReilly and Jarome Iginla also had regulation goals as Colorado stopped a four-game skid.The Avalanche routinely won last year by scoring late in the third period and then prevailing after regulation. Thursday was only one win, but coach Patrick Roy hopes its the start of something good.We were resilient and it was a nice comeback, he said. To win in the shootout was good for us. You always hope a game like this will bring confidence and a belief in ourselves.Mark Scheifele, who had a goal and two assists, gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead with a goal at 4:32 of the third, but Colorado rallied late. Iginlas wrister with 7:05 left got the Avalanche within a goal and OReilly tied it with 2:42 remaining in regulation.We played well to get a 3-1 lead, Scheifele said. Then we took our foot off the gas in the third period and they were able to generate chances.After a scoreless overtime, Nathan MacKinnon and Duchene beat goalie Ondrej Pavelec with a couple of backhanders. Pickard stopped Mathieu Perreault and Blake Wheeler in the shootout to get the win.I actually have faced Wheeler in the summers, Pickard said. I know hes got great moves and I just wanted to be patient and let the play come to me.Pickard made a pair of saves on a breakaway midway through overtime. Andrew Ladd came in alone but was stoned. His rebound came to Bryan Little, but Pickard made the save on his shot to keep it tied.I just wanted to be patient, Pickard said. Our back check forced (Ladd) to make a quick shot. I was playing pretty aggressive and the rebound kind of just lay there. I made a desperation-mode save.Pavelec finished with 23 saves in regulation and overtime. Ladd and Paul Postma also had regulation goals for Winnipeg, which is 5-0-3 in its last eight games.Ladd got Winnipeg on the board 1:21 into the second period with a power-play goal. Scheifeles shot went off Pickard and bounced in the air. The puck landed in the crease and Ladd poked it in for his 11th goal of the season and second in as many games against Colorado.The Avalanche ended a 93-minute, 31-second scoring drought when Duchene finished off a nice rush with a deflection into the top of the net that tied the game at 1-all at 3:55 of the second.Postma gave the Jets a 2-1 lead heading into the third with a power-play goal at 14:40. It was his second of the season.We dominated the second period where Id thought the game was won, Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. At 3-1 I thought we were fine.NOTES: Michael Frolik had two assists for Winnipeg. ... Avalanche LW Alex Tanguay had two assists. ... The Avalanche placed C John Mitchell (leg) on injured reserve and recalled RW Dennis Everberg from Lake Erie of the AHL. ... Jets LW Evander Kane served the second of his two-game suspension for boarding Anaheims Clayton Stoner on Sunday. ... Colorado LW Jamie McGinn underwent back surgery Wednesday and is likely done for the season. . David West scored 25 points, Paul George added 22, and the Pacers beat the Utah Jazz 94-91 on Sunday night. Indianapolis native Gordon Hayward had 21 points and Derrick Favors scored 17 for the Jazz, nine of them in the first eight minutes as Utah opened a 14-4 lead. . -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has a broken bone below his right eye after being struck by a bad-hop grounder, sidelining the star slugger for at least a week with opening day on deck. . -- James Jones wouldnt be denied a Lambeau leap after a long touchdown catch.ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Calvin Johnson was back on the practice field for the Detroit Lions. That doesnt mean his status for this weekend is even close to determined. "I dont have any updates on him," coach Jim Schwartz said. "You guys saw what you saw." Johnson was inactive in a loss at Green Bay last weekend because of an injured right knee. He didnt practice Wednesday, but he was on the field Thursday during the portion of practice open to reporters. Johnson didnt participate in every drill, but he did do some footwork and pass-catching exercises with other receivers. "It feels good to be out there," Johnson said. "Im feeling better, definitely. So we can just leave it at that." Detroit lost 22-9 to the Packers without Johnson. The star receiver has 21 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns on the season. The Lions play at Cleveland on Sunday. "It certainly helps to have him out there," offensive co-ordinator Scott Linehan said. "Thats the understatement of the day." The Lions (3-2) had won two in a row before arriving in Green Bay, but Johnson was a surprising scratch. Hed given cryptic answers about his health a few days before the game, but Johnson had been banged up before and missed only one game since the start of the 2010 season. He had to sit out another Sunday, and Detroits offence did not look good at all. The Lions are also missing receiver Nate Burleson, who is still recovering after hurting his arm in a car accident. Burleson was on the practice field Thursday as well, wearing a backward cap. While his teammates caught footballs, he tried to catch tennis balls with his good arm during drills. Burleson isnt expected back for a while, but Johnsons presence on the field was at least a small step in the right direction. . "Its just going to depend on how he feels when we get to game day," Schwartz said. "He had a bunch of times last year where he didnt practice at all, and went out and played on Sunday, and last week he practiced on Friday and wasnt able to go out there on Sunday." Tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler had four catches apiece last weekend, but Scheffler is now recovering from a concussion and didnt practice at all Thursday. Suddenly Detroits dynamic passing game looks decimated, putting more pressure on running back Reggie Bush. The Lions hope for a lift from Kevin Ogletree, who signed with Detroit last week and caught a couple passes against Green Bay. "He has really good hands. Its good to see him catch the ball with his hands all the time," Johnson said. "It builds confidence in the coaches in him." The Lions dont like to give out much information on injuries because they worry it could provide a competitive advantage to the opponent, but this week, the real question is about Detroits preparation. If Johnson cant play, can the Lions come close to replacing his production? Schwartz says the uncertainty surrounding Johnson isnt a distraction for the rest of the team. "Theres a lot of fantasy football owners that want to know whether hes going to play or not," Schwartz said. "But the guys in the locker room, were prepared." NOTES: T Jason Fox (knee), LB Ashlee Palmer (ankle) and RB Theo Riddick (concussion) did not practice. S Louis Delmas (knee), CB Chris Houston (hamstring) and S Glover Quin (ankle) were limited. ' ' '