Aarif Deen
DENVER — Gabe Landeskog dropped the gloves with a 27-year-old late bloomer who was playing in just his sixth NHL game. That’s not a stab at Charle-Edouard D’Astous as much as it is a compliment to No. 92.
The captain hasn’t played hockey regularly in well over three years. He’s already been demoted from the top six, yet he’s still finding ways to contribute.
Against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, Landeskog put his captain stamp on the game.
READ MORE: The Aftermath: Olofsson Embodies Depth Upgrade for Avalanche
10 Observations
1. I refuse to buy into the thought that Landeskog struggling to produce in the first month of the season means he’s washed up or in over his head. We’re only 14 games into the season, but every assessment of this team so far, whether from inside or outside the locker room, has referenced the return of the captain as part of the reason why the team is as even-keeled as it’s been.
2. To me, what makes him most effective is his ability to adapt to any role. I bet there will be times this season when Landeskog is producing and likely playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.
In fact, he had a shift with them late in the third period and nearly made it 4-2 had it not been for an excellent save from Andrei Vasileveskiy.
But he’s not playing that role right now. He’s on the third line with Jack Drury and Victor Olofsson and embracing the role. He’s dropping the gloves to get the team going when they’re trailing 1-0.
He’s being a captain.
Landy stepping up, taking that fight, kind of got us going. And then we got that tying goal right after so it definitely gave us momentum.
“I love playing with him,” Olofsson said. “He competes every night and wins all these battles, and he’s a great guy to follow and look up to and learn a couple things from.”
3. I really wanted to see him finish the Gordie Howe hat trick. It would’ve also been fitting for his first regular season goal to be against Tampa Bay. But he didn’t and that’s fine. This was still easily his best performance of the season.
It was the most effective 12:33 of ice time I’ve seen.
“That was one of the most energized games he played,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “His competitiveness and his commitment to our team and the detail that he plays with has been there every game.”
4. How did they prep him for an improved performance? Rest. It’s something they’re still figuring out as they go, but it sounds like the captain needs more time off the ice to improve his game on it.
“It’s a battle for him, still, like to get to the top of his game,” Bednar said of the captain. “It’s a lot of hockey in a short period of time, especially this year with the schedule. So when we get him the rest, he seems to be playing even better.
“I think the more rest we can give him, and the more games he gets, his game’s just going to keep coming. I’m really proud of him, being able to play every day, being able to practice all the time. I kind of have to force him into most of those days off.”
5. Landeskog wasn’t available post-game, but I’d love to ask him what Pontus Holmberg said to him right before the opening puck drop. I’d imagine he’s still receiving warm welcomes from opposing players, just as he did from Mikko Rantanen, Jamie Benn, and other members of the Dallas Stars during the playoffs.
6. I asked Ross Colton if this has been a boring start to the season in terms of storylines. There are no depth issues, no goaltending struggles, no captain on the sideline, or injuries and suspensions piling on. It’s just a good team playing good hockey and winning games in regulation and losing them in OT.
I was obviously kidding with the “boring” part, but his response was still great.
“If that’s boring, then we’ll take it. That’s a good thing,” he joked. “I mean, everyone’s playing well. I feel like we’re getting contributions from a lot of guys. And hopefully, soon enough, we’ll get OC back, we’ll get Kivy back, and then we get four lines rolling. This has been a fun 14 games so far.”
7. Bednar said he had a conversation with Mackenzie Blackwood this morning about easing him back into the daily grind of a hockey season. And he’s only able to do that because Scott Wedgewood has been solid since opening night.
He’s built more confidence and trust from the coaching staff than what was already a high standard after the trade from Nashville last year. Wedgewood leads all goalies with eight wins.
Blackwood will get into games as things progress. Colorado has practices scheduled for Wednesday and Friday and will have even more during the home stand after this weekend’s back-to-back games.
“He’s going to play a lot of hockey here, it’s a long season, so I’m not in a rush,” Bednar said. “But he’s also missed a lot, and I want to get him up to speed and playing. There’ll be a little bit of a give and take there.”
8. Zakhar Bardakov played 5:33 and Tristen Nielsen played 5:25 and was sent down after the game. If both Logan O’Connor and Gavin Brindley are back soon, I’d imagine Parker Kelly is going to center the fourth line with the two of them as his wingers.
When you also factor in Joel Kiviranta, that’s quite the group they have up front to start the year.
I, for one, am excited for O’Connor and Brindley to be linemates. Those guys are going to work so well together.
9. It was a mostly forgettable night for Cale Makar. But kudos to him, along with Drury and Kelly, for laying their bodies out on the line with some big blocks late in regulation. Makar is okay after blocking that shot.
10. The Avs’ PP is up to 17%, which is good for 22nd in the league. They’re slowly moving on up. As for the PK, Colorado is second, killing 90.5% of penalties without their top penalty killer in O’Connor.
The team ahead of them, surprisingly, is the Buffalo Sabres at 90.9%.