Avalanche News
Flynn’s Daily: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not on the Avalanche
The Avalanche had three key players return in the last home game before hitting the road. They lost 5-2 to the Washington Capitals in a full-team breakdown. Colorado turned it around, with a bounce-back 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night and face off against the Caps again on Thursday night.
Alex Ovechkin will be out of the Capitals lineup with a week-to-week lower-body injury. While one player does not define an entire team, the Avs will have an advantage with him sidelined.
“Regardless of the situation you never want to see players go down. You know it’s a physical game and injuries are part of it, but the competitor in me wants to play the other team’s lineup. I want our team to have our lineup. That’s not the case for an 82-game season,” head coach Jared Bednar said after Wednesday’s practice.
Bednar said Alexandar Georgiev practiced light on Tuesday and Wednesday and everything “looked good.” He said that he could be an option for Thursday.
Cale Makar was the storyline for the Avalanche against Philly, but a few others stood out — Casey Mittelstadt got the game-winner (and the big hat) and the Sams (Malinski and Girard) were on point.
Notably, Nathan MacKinnon only had two shots on goal when he averaged 3.45 in 11 October games and 3.9 in eight November games. His production is a huge part of the team’s success and he earned an assist on Makar’s first goal. Not saying he’s slipping — he had a quiet night and other elite players stepped up to win the game.
Justus Annunen had a terrible game against the Capitals on Friday last week but managed to bounce back and play solid to help the Avs win in Philly. Bednar was pleased with his game which shows confidence from both the coach and the goaltender.
Valeri Nichushkin’s return has been quiet but just because he hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet doesn’t mean he’s playing poorly. He recorded two shots on goal and played on both special teams — adding nearly two additional minutes than his second-line center.
“He (Nichushkin) was good tonight. He was pretty good in game one being back and tonight I thought he was even better,” Bednar said after the win at Wells Fargo Center.
Jonathan Drouin returned from a game-one injury last Friday and has shown a spark in his game. He got an assist on Mittelstadt’s goal and has played on the top line with MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen or Mikko Rantanen.
It’s a matter of time before the team gels and chemistry heats up with its caliber of talent. And remember, Ross Colton and Gabriel Landeskog are still on the IR and their returns will have an impact.
Around the NHL
Buffalo Hockey Now: Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shut out the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 in his return from injury Wednesday night. The Finnish netminder missed two games with a lower-body injury and is 7-4-1 in his 13 starts this season.
Read More: What You Missed from Sabres’ Shutout Win Over Kings
San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks showed some signs of a possible victory over the Dallas Stars going into the second period tied at one but then it went downhill from there.
Midway through the middle frame San Jose was down 2-1 and gave all the control to the Stars which was solidified by Jamie Benn’s game-winner. Sheng Peng of SJHockey Now said he saw “San Jose being careless with the puck, not hard on pucks, and botching defensive coverages.”
More on Sharks loss to Stars: Sharks Locker Room: 2 Ugly Minutes
More Avalanche News
Ross Colton May Be Back in Avalanche Lineup Soon
Notebook: Was It Time for the Avalanche to Trade Justus Annunen?
Deen’s Daily: Avalanche Still Looking for Goaltending?; Red Wings Goaltending Takes a Hit
What Makes Nikolai Kovalenko a ‘Dangerous’ Player
Deen’s View: Wedgewood Deal Signals More To Come for the Avalanche (+)
Good & Bad: Full Team Effort in Avalanche Win
Good & Bad: Poor Goaltending, Execution in Avs Loss to Lightning
Avalanche’s Miles Wood Placed Back on IR; Chris Wagner Recalled
Avalanche Acquire Goaltender Scott Wedgewood From the Nashville Predators
Flynn’s Daily: How Avs Need to Move on from Loss; Montgomery Debuts as Blues New Head Coach
Mack doesn’t shoot the puck when he should. He was a shooting machine last season. But that’s the thing with other players on the team to they should shoot instead of trying to be pretty.
I can see nuke and drouin be a little quiet but I think after 2 games back they should be up to speed
Deadline players that should be moved. Kylington georgiev LOC Wood
LOC for sure! Wood has been underwhelming and posseses another albatross. The team is very soft, never hits, gets it, and game/series over! Nothing has changed with this team. 21 games in or one quarter of the season and they are .500. Lame. MacTO is to blame mostly, and despite MiAkkko having two hatties, take those away and MIA! Makar is the savior of the team as long as he can stay healthy. He is better than TO and MiA. A collosal failure this season would be good for the franchise. No more LTD, and a new coach would be… Read more »
Your takes are the absolute worst, what are you 12 years old
Why thank you! :0)
This is a tweet that Evan Rawal sent out today. Of course I thought of you. Enjoy…
Just perusing some #’s, and Nathan MacKinnon’s dominance since 1/1/2023 is out of control.
141 5v5 points (next closest has 117)
170 even strength points (next closest 144)
251 total points (McDavid is second with 237)
Doesn’t really seem to be slowing down, either.
All valid reasons to dump MacKinnon, quote the “Messier” nevermore…
Oh Rica, I never said dump the chump. He needs to perform better, score more goals, be a big game hunter! He is a fraud in the playoffs when the team needs his $13M play!
First in unforced turnovers
First in pouting
First in stopping playing when he wants!
MacTO!
Throw da baby out with the da bath water. Let’s see, Marky. Mac, Rants, LOC and Wood all gone. Can you please provide your replacements? And not just “anybody,” – – let’s get specific, here. The “Messier Hot Take” on curing all the Avs ills. Please – – we’re waiting.