Byram, Timmins dominate in Avalanche’s 5-2 win in Rookie Showcase opener

IRVINE, Calif. – Bo knows hockey.

My goodness, what an exhibition of hockey I saw today from Bo Byram in an exhibition game at a suburban ice rink in this Orange County enclave. Final from Great Park Ice and Fivepoint Arena: Colorado Avalanche rookies/prospects 5, Vegas Golden Knights rookies/prospects/sacrificial lambs 2, in the opener of the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff tourney.

Byram, the fourth overall selection of this year’s NHL draft, was the best player on the ice in a game that had lots of very good players wearing visiting white with burgundy trim. If the lefty Byram wasn’t twirling away from forechecking pressure like a matador on skates waving a red cape, he was deep-dishing saucer passes through hapless Golden Knights sticks to teammates for breakaways or odd-man rushes.

Byram assisted on two of Colorado’s five goals and was pretty near flawless, at least as I could tell, defensively in a victory that wasn’t as close at the final score indicated. And get this: Byram thought he was “rusty” out there.

Bo knows false modesty a bit, too, it would appear.