No matter how many times the Avs try, the Coyotes are almost never definitively conquered.
Irksome Arizona gave the Avalanche one last stressful fight Sunday, but Colorado left Mullett Arena with a dramatic 4-3 shootout win and a 3-1 edge in the season series, which is now over as the Coyotes hurdle toward their early offseason.
But none of those three Avalanche wins, all in March, were easy. Colorado (43-23-6) needed overtime in one matchup, a third-period game-winner in another and seven shootout rounds this time. Valeri Nichushkin scored the walk-off winner after Alexandar Georgiev stopped all seven Arizona shootout attempts, allowing Colorado to snag a vital second point after blowing 2-0 and 3-2 leads.