Avs make it look easy in Dallas (+)

Well, that game was never in doubt. For the Avs, it was as complete a performance as you could ask, in their 4-0 shutout over the Dallas Stars and their neon uniforms at American Airlines Arena.

A dominant defensive performance, including a third period in which Jared Bednar called the “best period we’ve had all year” in that department, allowed Colorado to cruise to an easy win.

Nathan MacKinnon made his return to the lineup after that hit from Taylor Hall on Jan. 26 and played well. He had an assist on the first goal of the game – a tip by Gabe Landeskog – and was a plus-2.

“I felt great. Better than I thought I would. Had some good legs. Thought our whole team played really well,” MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon called the hit by Hall an “unlucky play”, but said his recovery from the broken nose went smoothly, all in all.

TAKEAWAYS AND OBSERVATIONS

• Cale Makar with two assists and a plus-3 in 25 minutes. Ho-hum.
• His first assist, to Nazem Kadri that made it 2-0, was a thing of beauty. Makar came down the wall and blew by everybody before finding Kadri alone in front.
• Nice goal by Nicolas Aube-Kubel to make it 3-0 in the third. I think he’s going to be a roster player for the Avs in the playoffs – something I was skeptical about when they first got him.
• The analytics nerds’ heads may explode here, but there is no question Kurtis MacDermid has made a big difference for this team. Jamie Benn wanted no part of him after they tangled near the Stars bench, meekly going back to the bench when Big Mac seemed to be ready to drop the gloves. Two years ago in the playoffs, Benn got away with a bunch of cheap shots and nobody did anything about it. Now, they have Big Mac to quiet guys like him down.
• Jared Bednar on his team’s defensive play overall: “Loved it. The reloads, tracking, D-gaps were outstanding. I thought the third period was probably the best period we’ve had all year.”
• Two goals for Landeskog, including an empty-netter. That’s 22 on the season for the captain.
• Darcy Kuemper? He wasn’t severely tested, but he made all the stops, 23 in all. His saves percentage now is up to .918. The record: 23-5-2, with a 2.45 GAA.
• The Stars’ top line today? A combined minus-9. A minus-3 for Ryan Suter too.
• I thought the Johnsons – Jack and Erik – were excellent today.
• Avs will play Dallas again at home Tuesday. I would expect Pavel Francouz to get the start, with Kuemper going the next night in Vegas.