Avalanche Turning Point: Nichushkin, Lehkonen Battle To Take Back the Lead (+)

In the Turning Point, we’ll take a look at one moment in the previous Colorado Avalanche game that changed the momentum in the game, whether in a good way or bad way.

After jumping out to an early two goal lead, the Avalanche gave up two goals in a little over a minute to the Florida Panthers in the second period. Momentum had quickly swung back to the home team.

Something had to be done to take the momentum back for the Avalanche. The MacKinnon line was able to do exactly that, and all five players on the ice played a role.

Want the Puck More

The Avalanche actually lose the center ice face-off, but the pass from the Panthers goes directly into the skate of the forward. That’s when Lehkonen pounces. He uses his stick to lift the Panthers forward’s stick, then pins him up along the boards and starts battling.

At this point, his big buddy Nichushkin comes in to help out. He just outworks the opposing team for the puck, even though the Panthers player had the positioning. MacKinnon senses that Nichushkin is going to dig the puck out, and moves from defensive positioning to attack mode.

Nichushkin does, indeed, dig the puck out, gets it deep, and it’s time to go to work again.

Win the Races

MacKinnon, as he usually does, wins the race, but blows a tire. Forslung lets up just a little bit to make sure MacKinnon isn’t hurt, but the puck is left behind.

Nichushkin, who did a lot of battling in the neutral zone, beats Ekbad to the puck and starts the cycle. He sends it to Byram at the point, and the Avalanche turn a lost face-off into an offensive zone possession.

Sneaking Down Low

Byram sends the puck back to MacKinnon, who Forslung allowed to get up and get positioning. Forslung goes for the poke check, misses, then gets completely turned around by MacKinnon, giving him more time and space.

Byram heads to center point, as his forward is too busy worrying about MacKinnon. He gets hit with the pass and lets a low shot go. In the background, Devon Toews is sneaking down low, as he usually does. Both Nichushkin and Lehkonen are battling for positioning down low, but aren’t able to get to the front of the net.

Bobrovsky lets a fat rebound out, and he sends it right to Toews, who you wouldn’t expect to be down low in that position if you’re the opposing team. Toews deposits it into the empty net, and the Avalanche get their lead back.

It all started in the neutral zone off a lost face-off. Lehkonen and Nichushkin are on MacKinnon’s line to help dig pucks loose for him, and that’s exactly what they did to turn the momentum back in the Avalanche’s favor.