Matthew Duchene (born January 16, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Duchene notched his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against the San Jose Sharks with an assist on a powerplay goal by defenceman John-Michael Liles. His first goal came later that month on October 17 against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was announced the next day that Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.
On November 30, 2009, he compiled his first two-goal NHL game in a 3-0 shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The next game, against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2009, Duchene tallied his second two-goal game and first three-point game of his career, scoring twice against Florida's Scott Clemmensen and assisting on a goal by Chris Stewart in a 6-5 shootout loss. It marked the first time that an 18-year-old recorded back-to-back two-goal games in the NHL since Radek Dvorak did it with Florida in November 1995. Duchene was subsequently selected as the NHL rookie of the month for December 2009, scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 14 games.
On April 6, 2010, the Avalanche had the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Tied 3-3 after overtime, Duchene scored the game winning shootout goal against Roberto Luongo to send the Avalanche into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Duchene finished his rookie NHL season third on the Avalanche in scoring with 55 points, and second in goals with 24. Among NHL rookies, he finished first in points, ahead of John Tavares by one, and tied with Tavares for first in goals. Duchene added three assists in six playoff games as the Avalanche were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the opening round. After completion of the season, he was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team and placed third in Calder Trophy voting.
The following season, Duchene recorded his first five minute major for fighting, against opponent Vladimír Sobotka of the St. Louis Blues on November 15, 2010. Several months later, he was chosen to participate in his first NHL All-Star Game. During the contest, he became the first player in the NHL All-Star Game history to be awarded a penalty shot when Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin tossed his stick toward Duchene on a breakaway. Duchene's attempt was turned away by Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Soon thereafeer, Duchene recorded his 100th career NHL point on January 26, 2011, with a goal against Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov in a 5-2 loss. The goal made him the youngest player in franchise history (including the Quebec Nordiques era) to record the milestone, beating Duchene's boyhood idol, Joe Sakic. Duchene finished the season with 67 points and became the youngest player in Avalanche history to lead the team in scoring.
On November 4, 2011, Matt Duchene tallied his first career hat trick in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. This game also marked Matt Duchene's first career four-point game. Having missed only 3 games in his previous 2 seasons combined, his third season in the NHL would see only 58 games, tried by left-knee, and later right-ankle injuries. After the 11-12 season, Duchene confirmed to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post that after his ankle injury, he played the remaining games of the season hurt, in a desperate bid for the playoffs that ended for the Avs after game 81. He finished his season scoring 28 points with 14 goals. On June 23rd, 2012 Matt, as a restricted free agent, agreed to a two year deal with the Avalanche worth $7 million. Source: wikipedia.org
Duchene notched his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against the San Jose Sharks with an assist on a powerplay goal by defenceman John-Michael Liles. His first goal came later that month on October 17 against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was announced the next day that Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.
On November 30, 2009, he compiled his first two-goal NHL game in a 3-0 shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The next game, against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2009, Duchene tallied his second two-goal game and first three-point game of his career, scoring twice against Florida's Scott Clemmensen and assisting on a goal by Chris Stewart in a 6-5 shootout loss. It marked the first time that an 18-year-old recorded back-to-back two-goal games in the NHL since Radek Dvorak did it with Florida in November 1995. Duchene was subsequently selected as the NHL rookie of the month for December 2009, scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 14 games.
On April 6, 2010, the Avalanche had the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Tied 3-3 after overtime, Duchene scored the game winning shootout goal against Roberto Luongo to send the Avalanche into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Duchene finished his rookie NHL season third on the Avalanche in scoring with 55 points, and second in goals with 24. Among NHL rookies, he finished first in points, ahead of John Tavares by one, and tied with Tavares for first in goals. Duchene added three assists in six playoff games as the Avalanche were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the opening round. After completion of the season, he was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team and placed third in Calder Trophy voting.
The following season, Duchene recorded his first five minute major for fighting, against opponent Vladimír Sobotka of the St. Louis Blues on November 15, 2010. Several months later, he was chosen to participate in his first NHL All-Star Game. During the contest, he became the first player in the NHL All-Star Game history to be awarded a penalty shot when Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin tossed his stick toward Duchene on a breakaway. Duchene's attempt was turned away by Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Soon thereafeer, Duchene recorded his 100th career NHL point on January 26, 2011, with a goal against Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov in a 5-2 loss. The goal made him the youngest player in franchise history (including the Quebec Nordiques era) to record the milestone, beating Duchene's boyhood idol, Joe Sakic. Duchene finished the season with 67 points and became the youngest player in Avalanche history to lead the team in scoring.
On November 4, 2011, Matt Duchene tallied his first career hat trick in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. This game also marked Matt Duchene's first career four-point game. Having missed only 3 games in his previous 2 seasons combined, his third season in the NHL would see only 58 games, tried by left-knee, and later right-ankle injuries. After the 11-12 season, Duchene confirmed to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post that after his ankle injury, he played the remaining games of the season hurt, in a desperate bid for the playoffs that ended for the Avs after game 81. He finished his season scoring 28 points with 14 goals. On June 23rd, 2012 Matt, as a restricted free agent, agreed to a two year deal with the Avalanche worth $7 million. Source: wikipedia.org
 |
| Matt Duchene Picture |
