Colleen Flynn
Nathan MacKinnon’s overtime game-winning goal earned him the player of the game hat in the 4-3 OT win over the Anaheim Ducks, but Ross Colton was the star in regulation. The 28-year-old forward scored two goals — one on the power play and one even strength. He had five shots on goal in the 21:54 he was on the ice.
“We’re getting the chances and we’re shooting the puck. We’re getting pucks low to high, D are shooting it and just checking pucks back. What led to a lot of those scoring chances was we were above the puck the whole game. We weren’t really giving them anything, which obviously led to great offense,” Colton said after the win.
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Colton played all over the place, again, but was mainly on the top line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. He attributed his success to their playmaking skills — with a side note not to offend his regular linemates.
“Just trying to play my game. Getting elevated to play with Mikko and Nate, they kind of make it easy for me out there. So again, just play my game. Try and play fast, check pucks back and get into the open areas. Because again, two of the best players in the league, if you get open, they’re going to find you.
“They’re really good. Nothing against Woody (Miles Wood) and OC (Logan O’Connor) but, it’s nice to play with those guys,” Colton said.
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The Robbinsville, New Jersey native has four goals and an assist through five games. He was the third-line center most of last season but has shown his versatility on the top line at left wing. Head coach Jared Bednar said he is the “prototypical” player he wants with MacKinnon and Rantanen with his style of play.
“Part of Colton’s game, which makes him really good as a winger, is he likes to skate and move and keep a little momentum, and then he’s a terrific forecheck or physical, like he can get on the hunt more.
“Playing with some play makers, he’s obviously a guy that likes to shoot it, likes to go to the net. Already has some of those characteristics, like I talked about the other day of Landy (Gabriel Landeskog), Lehky (Artturi Lehkonen), Val (Nichushkin), the guys that have had success with Mac (MacKinnon) and Mikko, because he goes to the paint when they get the puck and they protect it, and they’re skating and making plays in the offensive zone. So there’s a lot of things that he does that compliment Mac and Mikko.”
Bednar said Colton may move back to center when more wingers get back in the lineup but, for now, he’s contributing and producing at a high level with the team’s elite forwards.