Morning Skate Diary
Cale Makar back on ice in regular sweater (Byram, Compher too)
It’s a good-news Tuesday morning, Avalanche fans. Cale Makar is baa-aaaack, in a regular sweater at least. So, too, this morning were Bo Byram and J.T. Compher. See for yourself:
🎶 Back in black! 🎶 #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/rcJVFN23Y4
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 16, 2021
Another wonderful sight!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/DKPsnGefQc
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 16, 2021
While Makar won’t play tonight against Anaheim at Ball Arena (I know, I know, there’s always another game, another couple days before anyone ever truly comes back with the Avs), he’s on his way back it seems, at least.
“I don’t have a firm timeline on him,” coach Jared Bednar said of Makar. “He’s progressing, getting closer.”
Neither Byram or Compher will play tonight, either, but Bednar said they are likely to play Thursday against Minnesota.
Hunter Miska will start in goal for the Avs tonight. This is a huge game for him. It might be his last chance to show he’s worthy of the backup job to Philipp Grubauer. He lost his last start, to Anaheim, so here’s a chance at redemption. His saves percentage on the season is a cringe-worthy .865, with a 3.50 goals-against average.
Bednar said, “I just want him to relax out there.”
That might be easier said than done. There’s a lot of pressure on him tonight. The Avs are playing a Ducks team that is circling the drain. They’ve lost three in a row and are 2-5-3 in the last 10. No word yet on who will start in goal for the Ducks, but it’ll probably be John Gibson.
Here are the lines and D pairs for the Avs tonight:
Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Saad-Kadri-Burakovsky
Nichushkin-Jost-Donskoi
Calvert-Bellemare-O’Connor
D
Toews-Graves
Girard-MacDonald
Renouf-Pateryn
Miska
The Avs are strong -280 favorites to win outright tonight, at SuperBook Colorado. The value is better on the puck line (win by two goals or more) at -115. First-time bettors get a free matching bet up to $500. Take advantage of that great deal here.
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Hopefully I’m wrong but I believe we are throwing games away with Miska. Cringe City. This guy just doesn’t have it at the NHL level. I wonder what the FO and coaching staff has seen to tell them otherwise? Anyone have any insights?
Like, for instance, if I wanted to make a case for Werner instead, then I could say one off his two games in the NHL was a strong shutout in an important Win for the Avs last season. What does Miska have on his NHL resume, seriously I’m not too familiar with him, any know anything good he’s done at this level?
Personally I have zero confidence in Miska. He seems like a great teammate. I would much rather have Werner or even Anton Forsberg just waived this morning in net than Miska.
4/6pts with him in net, a few bad bounces last time they played Anaheim. I don’t think he’s giving games away and Werner has not been good in Loveland yet. GMs/Coaches gotta be stubborn and play the guys they signed
I don’t dislike Jost as much as I used to anymore but I hate to have him centering the third line. Put O’Connor there for a try. He’s deserved it. But this team really needs another centerman going forward. For the back up goalie, there must be hope for a Frankie return as they haven’t signed anyone yet.
I think the Avs could do very well with a third line of O’Connor centering Jost and Calvert. That line would be absolutely relentless on the puck and would make lives hell for the other team. Good defensively too, and they would very likely be able to chip in some offense here and there.
I think LOC is better on the wing, where he can grind more up and down the wall
Jost is developing into a decent defensive player but has zero to give on offense. Val and Donskoi are wasted as his wingers. Unfortunately it’s pretty much the same with Compher. Because there isn’t an option here I’d try out O’Connor as he is speedy, hard working and responsible. But they lack center depth and definitely need another one picked up.
Well after the 1st period they replaced Miska with Grub. I’m sure Sackic is well aware they need a quality back up goalie, and after tonight that need may turn to desperation. I’m afraid they will have to over pay for one. I think we can pretty much forgot about Frankie playing any quality minutes this year.