Compher scores 1st NHL goal, Avalanche beat Red Wings 3-1

Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher, back, celebrates after scoring a goal as Detroit Red Wings left wing Tomas Tatar, of Slovakia, skates away during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Denver. The Avalanche won 3-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

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Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher, left, watches his shot for a goal past Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg, of Sweden, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Denver. The Avalanche won 3-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Sven Andrighetto, of Switzerland, has his shot deflected by Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

DENVER – J.T. Compher scored his first NHL goal, Calvin Pickard stopped 27 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Matt Duchene scored his first goal in 12 games and Carl Soderberg added his first in 18 games as the NHL-worst Avalanche won at home for the third time in four tries. They are 11-22-2 at the Pepsi Center this season.

Andreas Athanasiou scored for the Red Wings, who, like their once-hated rival, are well out of the playoff hunt. Jimmy Howard made 26 saves in his second start since returning from a knee injury that had kept him out since Dec. 20.

The Avalanche were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 1-0 loss to Arizona on Monday, tying a franchise record set in 2008-09. It took them 1½ periods to break through against Detroit.