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Observations from Avalanche 4-1 win over Wild

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David Zalubowski/AP

Back to .500! For the Avalanche, this used to be not much to brag about, but after starting the season 1-3-0, for the Avs to be 4-4-0 now is a nice statement of how things have changed over the past week.



The Avs beat the Wild 4-1 tonight, with Gabe Landeskog getting two goals, Nathan MacKinnon nearly getting a Gordie Howe Hat Trick and Darcy Kuemper playing his first dominant game since being acquired from Arizona.

Landeskog’s empty-netter sealed this one, as the Avs never trailed in what was a solid all-around performance.

โ€œWe knew it was going to be a tough game, they check hard and they donโ€™t give up a whole lot, so we had to work for everything we got. I think we did a good job of that, played well defensively for most of the game. The third period, we got a little bit on our heels but we ended up getting the W and itโ€™s big,” Landeskog said.

I liked how the Avs skated and kept the Wild mostly to the perimeter – although there were a couple of lucky moment in the first 40 minutes, when the Wild missed on a couple of great chances, with Kuemper seemingly beat.

MORE OBSERVATIONS AND TAKEAWAYS

  • MacKinnon fought Duhaime of the Wild after his hit of Bo Byram into the boards from behind, which drew a 5-minute major. MacKinnon said he thinks Duhaime deserves a suspension.
  • MacKinnon: “I mean 2-4 was tough, it wouldโ€™ve been nice to get back to .500 against Vegas at home, didnโ€™t do that so we had to get a big win in St. Louis and now another great effort against Minny here at home tonight. A lot of fun getting wins on home ice.โ€
  • Erik Johnson got a goal, and capped it off with a fist pump. He also had a great shift after taking a shot off a foot. “I just tried to hobble around as best I could,” he said.
  • His goal was his first of the season and first since March 6, 2020 at Vancouver, after missing most of last season due to injury. Johnsonโ€™s tally was his 61st as a member of the Avalanche, moving within one goal of tying Rob Blake (62) for fourth place in franchise history for goals by a defenseman. His +6 rating this season is tops on the team. Johnsonโ€™s goal stood as the game winner, his 12th in an Avalanche sweater to move past Sandis Ozolinsh (11) into sole possession of second place in franchise history in game-winning goals by a defenseman.
  • Avs get three days off now between their next game. I would bet that Mikko Rantanen will be back by then.
  • Andre Burakovsky missed the rest of the third period after “tweaking” something, Jared Bednar said. He thinks he’ll be day-to-day.

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