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Defensive miscues plague Avalanche against Panthers

Alan Diaz / Associated Press)

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Avalanche wrapped up a four-game road trip Saturday with a troubling defensive performance at BB&T Center. The upstart Florida Panthers scored on an unassisted breakaway and twice on 2-on-1 rushes in a 5-2 victory that made Colorado 2-2 on the trip and 3-2 overall.

Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov was solid early but struggled in the third period, allowing three goals in a 2-minute, 26-second span to break open what was a 2-1 Florida lead. The Panthers' Jonathan Marchessault scored on a breakaway 4:30 into the third before Shane Harper scored his second goal of the game — and career — just 51 seconds later on a 2-on-1 rush.