Deen’s Daily: Avalanche Lose in Carolina; Chicago Fires Luke Richardson; San Jose Crushed by Tampa Bay

The Avalanche desperately need to go on a run to get away from being at or near .500. I thought the 5-4 comeback in Buffalo mixed with the new goalie acquisition could’ve kickstarted a winning streak. But in the very next game, the Carolina Hurricanes shut them down. Not only defeating the Avs 5-3 but dominating them in shots and opportunities. 

Part of the reason why the team continues to play hot and cold hockey is because of their power play. John-Michael Liles and the Altitude TV intermission crew mentioned during the broadcast that the Avs were 13% on the power play in their last 13 games. They followed it up by going 0-for-3 against the Hurricanes in 5:03 of power play time. Not good.

Another reason why the team is struggling is because Casey Mittelstadt has gone completely cold. More from Colleen Flynn on the second-line center’s struggles, and how he could work his way out of it.

Around the NHL

Chicago Hockey Now: The Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday. He was replaced by Anders Sorensen, the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Rockford. Sorensen is the interim coach for the rest of the season. Richardson was in the final year of his contract and was ultimately axed because Chicago wasn’t meeting expectations. Even if the team wasn’t going to make the playoffs all along, they had still hoped for something better than this to start the year. The Blackhawks are 8-16-2 nearly a third into the season.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Owen Pickering is gaining more playing time in Pittsburgh. And in turn, a former Avs defenseman signed to a long-term deal finds himself as a healthy scratch.

Montreal Hockey Now: Patrik Laine is going to play for Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Sam Montembeault was one of three goalies named to Team Canada’s roster. On Thursday, Laine scored his second goal in as many games with Montreal, and Montembeault got his third shutout of the season. Montreal defeated a shockingly bad Nashville team 3-0 in Justus Annunen’s Preds debut.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Jack Hughes is excited for the 4 Nations Face-Off and is already building his dream line for Team USA.

San Jose Hockey Now: The good vibes in San Jose have been crushed for at least a day. Tampa Bay came to town and smashed the Sharks.