Logan O’Connor, Colorado Eagles stepping up for the Avalanche once more

Logan O’Connor admitted to being a little bit nervous taking the ice in Game 3, which is fair considering it was his first ever Stanley Cup playoff game. To the casual observer, though, one could hardly tell.

It’s a pretty big stage for a kid who just turned 24 a few days prior, but O’Connor knew there was the possibility that this would happen when the Avalanche decided to take him to the bubble as part of the team’s 31-man playoff roster. So he stayed ready. 

“Unfortunately injuries are part of the game but it gives guys like me the opportunity to jump in there,” O’Connor said of making his postseason debut. “I just wanted to set myself up for the best chance of success fitness-wise off the ice. I knew there’d be an opportunity at some point that might come along.”

In his first NHL postseason action, O’Connor played in seven minutes, 44 seconds of Game 3, recording four hits while also playing some key minutes on the penalty kill. It was fairly limited action for the young kid but he came up big in those moments, even earning some high-praise from teammate and superstar center Nathan MacKinnon.