“Tonight, we weren’t a good hockey team” – Gabe Landeskog tells it like it is after embarrassing Avs loss

Look, I’m not going to overreact over this Avalanche 8-3 loss to Toronto. While I don’t think they would have won with any goalie tonight, I do pin a good portion of this night on the fact that, not long before the start of the game, did players know that starting goalie Darcy Kuemper would be out and Jonas Johansson would be in against the Maple Leafs to kick off a five-game road trip.

I think that was the overriding factor as to why Avs lost big, however. I just don’t think anyone – least of all JoJo – was ready for that kind of scenario.

First, about Kuemper: I don’t know what the upper-body injury is. I do know that Avs coach Jared Bednar said the team would have “monitor” the situation over the next couple of days, which would seem to indicate that Kuemper will not be available for duty tomorrow in Montreal, and that it’s possible Justus Annunen – the AHL’s goalie of the month for November with the Colorado Eagles – might get the start. In fact, if I had to lay money on this, I would bet it -165 or so.

I just thought the Avs looked not ready-for-prime-time right from the jump. Yet, I was feeling somewhat optimistic when Nazem Kadri made it 3-2 in the second period. But JoJo gave up a bad next couple of goals, and that was that.

MacKinnon had two assists tonight in his return, so none of this loss was on him. Well, his top-line counterpart, Auston Matthews, did have a hat trick, but I digress.

QUOTES:

Bednar says he'll talk it over with Sakic and other coaching staff as to who starts in goal in Montreal tomorrow. Could be Justus Annunen, the AHL goalie of the month for November

— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 2, 2021

Bednar said he expects Kuemper to stay on trip, but that they'll have to monitor him "over next couple of days". Sounds like no way he plays in Montreal tomorrow

— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 2, 2021

Bednar: "I don't have a sense of how severe (Kuemper) injury is. I only found out after morning skate"

— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 2, 2021

Landeskog: "You're only as good as you play, and we didn't play very good tonight, so we're not a very good hockey team night"

— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 2, 2021

Landeskog, "We have all the faith in the world in JoJo."

— Adrian Dater (@adater) December 2, 2021