Avalanche Gameday: Bednar Looking For Consistent ‘Habits’ From His Team

Not all wins and losses are the same for the Colorado Avalanche. Or any team, for that matter.

Most coaches can live with a loss if their team battled and played the right way. Jared Bednar is no different. That consistency in how the team plays is what he’s looking for from his team down the stretch.

“I think it’s about the habits that we play with,” Bednar said after morning skate. “We’ve had some inconsistencies this year. So the habits that we play with, establishing our identity and playing to it every night, and being consistent in a bunch of the things that we talk about for our team to have success, is what I want to see.”

In the win on Tuesday, a lot of those good habits returned for his team. Those habits were missing in the previous three games, especially against Dallas and New Jersey. Coach acknowledged the dip in play last week, but said those will happen over the course of a long season.

“It’s not entirely just about results,” Bednar said. “We have to see the right things from our group, and we’ve been digging into that for probably a month now, or more.”

Tonight, they’ll face a much tougher opponent in the Los Angeles Kings. Tied for first place in the Pacific Division, the Kings have won four straight games.

The Avalanche are hoping to build off a nice win the other night.

“I felt like our guys did a good job of letting go of that weekend and responding in the San Jose game,” Bednar said. “Now, we’ve got to do it against a tougher opponent tonight against LA and just keep this thing rolling.”

Eller’s Adjustment

Over the last two games, Lars Eller has started to look a little more comfortable on the ice. After morning skate, he mentioned that there are differences between what he’s been doing for years in Washington and what the Avalanche want him to do.

“Tactical stuff, like coverage in the ‘D’ zone,” Eller said, as far as what’s different. “I’m used to staying with your center, and now we’re doing things like not staying with your center. When you’ve done the same thing for seven years, or 10 years, that takes a little bit of time to re-wire. But so far, so good.”

With all the system changes he’s trying to learn, the Avalanche are trying to get him to focus more on playing as opposed to overthinking things.

“It looks to me like he’s still tentative and thinking too much,” Bednar said about Eller. “We’re trying to tell him, just be loose, trust your instincts. Go play your game. We’re not worried about a mistake here or there. I think it’s important that he’s loose and skating, and I think we’re starting to see that.”

The veteran center is still looking for his first point with the Avalanche.

Other News and Notes

• Alexandar Georgiev will start in net for the Avalanche.
• Kurtis MacDermid is day-to-day with a lower body injury after sliding into the boards late against the Sharks. Brad Hunt will replace him in the lineup.