Aarif Deen
DENVER — What an excellent start to the post-trade deadline era Avalanche.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have weapons and can score at will. They showed that. But what they didn’t plan for was an Avs team with the same, if not better, star power at the top of the lineup. And when those guys skate back to the bench, the new-look depth comes out to continue the fight.
Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle made their debuts and looked like an instant fit.
The Avs are built different with them in the lineup. Most importantly, it’s the trickle-down effect of having them in the lineup that will benefit this team most.
10 Observations
1. I highlighted the chemistry between Valeri Nichushkin and Brock Nelson in my game story. Did anyone catch that hug between the two of them after Nichushkin’s second goal? It sure felt like the start of something great over the next five weeks and beyond.
2. Casey Mittelstadt wasn’t put in a great position in his 366 days with the Avs. As soon as the struggles began, his future with the club was questioned. He wasn’t able to shake that feeling and it led to him being shipped out of town.
But with that being said, Nelson and Charlie Coyle are the right guys for this year’s run. There’s something about the way they play that is truly the missing ingredient for this team. Jared Bednar was asked if they add intimidation (which I think they do). He settled on saying those guys make them harder to play against (also true).
One thing we know for certain: None of the Avalanche’s centers are going to get pushed around anymore. Good luck trying to match them.
3. I’ll write a longer piece in the coming days about Parker Kelly’s role with the team now that he’s not being used at center. Kelly was throwing his body around like its nobody’s business. That’s the style of game that suits him and that’s what will keep him in the lineup with regular NHLers like Jimmy Vesey and Miles Wood breathing down his neck.
4. Mackenzie Blackwood struggled early. But it was nice to see the Avs have one of those dominant pond hockey-like games again, where they cycle the puck better than the other team. Even if that other team is one of the best in the league. Blackwood settled in, the goals came as needed and the comeback was complete.
5. When Ryan Lindgren was acquired, he was given the end stall in the Ball Arena dressing room where Calvin de Haan once was. But Lindgren was moved to Oliver Kylington’s old stall before the Leafs game.
Why? Because that end stall once belonged to Erik Johnson. He has since reclaimed it.
6. That was an excellent game from Sam Malinski, who finished with two assists. He looked confident with the puck and settled in nicely alongside Samuel Girard. Bednar even referenced him using his physicality in the defensive zone and continuing to push that into his game.
7. There was a particular play where Scott Laughton’s shot was stopped and covered by Blackwood. Laughton skated right into the crease before veering away at the last moment — almost in an act of intimidation with the goalie. Malinski was having none of it and instantly shoved the Leafs’ new centerman. Suddenly, Colorado’s blueliner was being pushed away by both Laughton and Max Domi. Loved seeing Malinski stand up to both of them. You need confidence to do that.
8. The Avs have scored 28 goals during their five-game winning streak. MacKinnon has six goals and seven assists for 13 points during this stretch. He’s one point shy of being in on half of their goals.
It’s great to see him being a little more selfish and burying pucks, too.
9. I chatted with Coyle about the 2014 playoff series when he was with Minnesota. It’s safe to say he knew back then that an 18-year-old rookie named MacKinnon would grow to be what he is now. MacKinnon’s second goal got him to 100 points in 64 games. He leads the league in points and is inching closer to his first Art Ross Trophy. Could he repeat as league MVP?
10. Let’s give Nichushkin some love. I was shocked to hear that this was his first career regular-season hat trick. He’d been building toward this for the past five games, ever since he returned from his latest injury.
I will say, it’s great that Bednar has continued to play him on the second line. It keeps Nichushkin’s ice time below 20 minutes and makes it tougher for others to line match. Gone are the days where you can beat the Avs by throwing your best defensive players out against MacKinnon, Nichushkin, and Mikko Rantanen and successfully shutting them down.
Nichushkin has 15 goals in 26 games. He’s a threat every time he takes the ice. And yet, he’s not the main focus for other teams defensively.
Solid work from Bednar and the coaching staff with this. Having depth is one thing. But knowing how to use it is another.