Avalanche Game 12 Plus/Minus: Kraken Fatigue, Powerplay Failure

As with every game, you take the good with the bad, so time to take a look at the pluses and the minuses in the game against the Kraken for the Colorado Avalanche.

– Kraken Fatigue

I have to admit – I’m Krak’d out.

With the seven game series to end last season, and two early games this year (that weren’t super entertaining), I’m good not seeing this team again for a while. Some games with them are entertaining, and then some games, like Thursday night’s matchup, are tough to get through. It’s time for a break. I’m sure the Avalanche wouldn’t mind either, as Seattle seems to have their number.

What’s that? They play them again on Monday? Fantastic. Can’t wait.

– Ugly Powerplay

The Avalanche had powerplays at key moments of the game to turn the momentum a little bit. Not only did they struggle to generate any offense at all, but they gave up a handful of chances to the Kraken. There was one breakaway for Jared McCann, and some other rush opportunities for Seattle.

It wasn’t just the top line that was bad. The second unit did nothing with their opportunities. Colorado has gone back to the three defenseman look on unit two, but I’m not a fan.

+ Nathan MacKinnon (At Even Strength)

MacKinnon did not have a perfects night by any means. I didn’t like his first, and as mentioned, the powerplay was horrendous, but he played a major role in all three goals for the Avalanche. After Lehkonen went down, he seemed to get a boost. He and Will Borgen started really getting into it in the second period, and maybe a battle like that gets him into the game a bit more.

– Ross Colton’s Last Even Strength Shift

Just a rough shift overall (probably the turning point…), and it started in the offensive zone. He got the puck near the blueline, and dropped it back to MacKinnon, but his pass was a little off. Not by a huge amount, but enough to where MacKinnon had to reach for it. The Kraken poked it away and held possession the rest of the shift.

When the puck went behind Colorado’s net, Byram went to go after Bjorkstrand…and Colton followed, leaving Tolvanen all alone in front. That was the beginning of the end.

Bednar called it a mistake, and mistakes happen. This one just happened to come at an unfortunate time.

– Ryan Johansen

Johansen was really good on Tuesday against the Blues, but outside of some wins in the face-off circle, was non-existent against the Kraken. He was the only player on the team who failed to register a shot attempt at even strength. That second line did have some zone time, but everything seemed to come from the outside for them.

+ Bowen Byram’s Offensive Game

You can tell that Byram is starting to get a little bit more comfortable on that right side, and now, the offense is starting to come. He led the team in shots on goal, and right now, he’s the only defenseman at even strength who seems to be contributing offensively, outside of Cale Makar.

– The Scary Lehkonen Incident

I don’t think there was any malicious intent here, or really anything dirty. It just seemed unfortunate. The way Lehkonen went into the boards was terrifying, though. Seeing him kick his legs the way he did was scary, especially knowing how tough of a guy he is.

They sent him to the hospital out of precaution, and hopefully that’s all it is. The Avalanche have been pretty fortunate early in the season as far as injuries go, but he would be a tough guy to replace.

+ Peter McNab Broadcast Booth

Peter McNab was fantastic to me from the moment I started covering the team back in 2018, and, he’s still greatly missed one year after his death. The organization paid tribute to him on Thursday night, renaming the TV booth the “Peter McNab Broadcast Booth.”

Perfect.

https://t.co/hyv2lE6CTj pic.twitter.com/Me8xRxhfEz

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) November 10, 2023