10 Observations
10 Takeaways: Despite the Loss, Blackwood Is Finding His Groove Again
Mackenzie Blackwood surrendered one goal in two full games against the Detroit Red Wings. He still didn’t win both games.
The Avalanche got shut out for the first time on Monday, wasting Blackwood’s second consecutive strong performance. Blackwood has surrendered just five goals in his last four starts and is 2-2. The offensive support isn’t there from the Avalanche right now.
10 Takeaways
1. This four-game stretch for Blackwood came after his poor performance against the Philadelphia Flyers nearly two weeks ago. Blackwood gave up six goals on 19 shots and was called out by head coach Jared Bednar.
The tune was different after this loss.
“He’s stringing together some nice games here. Obviously, the Detroit game, Toronto, now this one, so he’s getting back in the swing of things,” Bednar said. “He’s been working hard at it, trying to get him in the net a little bit more here. Obviously, we got a big break coming up, but he’s giving us a chance to win every night right now.”
2. Blackwood is 15-5-1 and has a .916 save percentage. This is likely the record he’ll carry into the Olympic break, as I’d imagine Scott Wedgewood will get the nod Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks.
3. Regardless, Bednar’s comments are accurate. Blackwood struggled when he came back from his early season injury in November. It took him a handful of games to find his stride, and then he settled into a dominant goalie that gave the Avs a chance to win every night. Most nights, they did.
This time, he needed two games to get things right. If the offensive support was there, Blackwood would easily be 3-1 or even 4-0 in his last four starts.
4. Speaking of the offense, this break is coming at a good time. I don’t think the Avalanche will sulk over these losses for three weeks. A lot of their top guys will be at the Olympics, but even the rest of the roster could use a reset. When the team returns in late February, it’ll be a fresh start.
5. There were a lot of Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, and Brock Nelson shifts in this one. It’s clear the Avs are desperately missing Martin Necas and Gabe Landeskog, but it’s also not a good sign that Ross Colton and Victor Olofsson are getting pushed aside this often.
They make up two of the top four wingers right now, and neither of them reached 14 minutes of ice time. Colton played just 12:45.
6. Jack Drury, Parker Kelly, and Joel Kiviranta all played more at 5-on-5 than Olofsson and Colton.
7. Two players I bet will really benefit from the break: Brent Burns and Gavin Brindley.
Burns because he’s been doing this for 20+ years and could use a bit of time to recover. Brindley, because he’s a rookie who has never played this much hockey in this little time before. The excitement he brought to the lineup earlier in the year has been nonexistent in recent weeks.
I recall Sam Malinski last year talking about how the 4 Nations break was good for him for this exact reason.
8. Six giveaways for Nathan MacKinnon. This was one of those nights where almost every time he started to dangle, he either lost the puck or made a pass that ended up going the other way.
9. In Detroit, MacKinnon missed an open net on the power play. In Denver, Nichushkin had most of the net open for him to shoot at, but instead put it into the goalie in the middle of the crease. Colorado ended 0-for-4 on the PP during this home-and-home, but could’ve easily had two.
You have to imagine that getting some of these to go in will help with their confidence. Something’s got to give with the man advantage at some point. Maybe the lengthy break will help.
10. The Taylor Makar experiment has to end. If not on Wednesday, then when the team returns to action after the Olympics. Makar has potential to develop into an NHL player but he’s not ready. It’s too much, too soon. The Colorado Eagles are a perfect spot for him to grow without being rushed.
If Martin Necas returns on Wednesday, Makar will be the one to sit barring any other injuries. But even if the Avs need to call someone up, there are at least two others on the Eagles who are a better fit right now.
Be nice if they shoot the puck instead of
Passing up the shots especially mackinnon
Brett Kane said this morning that Makar needs to stop being so fancy with his shots. Stop trying to pick corners and just get the puck on net for rebounds.
Brett Kane never played hockey so I don’t think he understands how good even the worst NHL goalie is. Elite shooters can pick corners and every goal can’t be a deflection or rebound. Getting pucks on net for rebounds requires teammates being in good position for said rebounds and defenses have been collapsing and blocking lots of shots net front. Makar has always been good at getting shots through and for reasons I don’t understand he’s struggled with that this year
To further your point: shooting at the logo does not typically lead to rebound opportunities. Those “center mass” shots are easy for an NHL goalie to control — either smothering or pushing to a skater. Rebounds come from the more difficult saves — pad, shoulder, etc. Those come from shots to the corners or to a relatively open side.
So you’re saying that as long as the puck doesn’t sail wide or over the net that picking corners to force a more difficult save is actually a good thing? Thought so…
Too many of the Avs shots are just a bit outside, to include Makar’s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVP9WUGdgPg
Yes, Makar misses wide sometimes. That is not a reason to stop trying for high-chance opportunities. Sometimes he misses inside, as well.
Your Ricky Vaughn analogy kind of implies that Cale is just not very good at shooting pucks. If he is that unskilled, he should absolutely stop. Maybe be benched.
Is that really what you want to go with?
Actually his pitching improved when he got glasses. It was never a skill issue. That said, you are missing the point that too many of Makar’s shots are going wide or over the net (or into the feet of the guy standing in front of him) and that was the point that Kane was making. Get the puck on net.
People here have been commenting since last years playoffs about Makar’s shots tending to go over the net and that has continued this year.
He likes to toss around word salads trying to “sound smart” on here. That’s why he should change his moniker to Nancy Boy. 🤣
This is from DNVR so take it for what you want: My real issue was with Makar’s offensive play. It was, frankly, at times offensive. He led the Avalanche with 10 shot attempts, which has pros and cons. On one hand, Makar is awesome, so his shooting a lot is good. The con is that he had two shots on goal. Three of his shots were blocked, but five missed everything. It has felt like a genuine epidemic with Makar lately. He can’t hit the net. He has just one goal in his last nine games. In that time, he has 27… Read more »
Fans that constantly yell to shoot the puck can drive me nuts. It’s valid if you’re talking about players deferring when they have a shooting lane or passing up a good shot to make the extra pass but to say that challenging a goalie to make a difficult save is “being too fancy” is ludicrous. Those shots create the best opportunities for rebounds
Jack Drury, Parker Kelly, and Joel Kiviranta all played more at 5-on-5 than Olofsson and Colton and they are really the 4th line. I think you see the limitations offensively of Colton and Olofsson. They are okay as 3rd liners, but need an offensive minded 3C to bring out their offense. If not, they become not much more than a 4th line offensively, yet aren’t good enough defensively to be 4th liners. Bardakov, Makar, and Brindley are really AHL’ers at this stage of their development. As far as several Eagles worthy of callup, the Avs keep calling up small forwards… Read more »
You can’t lump Bardakov and Brindley in with Makar. Makar is so far down the ladder that the comparison doesn’t make any sense. I’d take Jason Polin any day over Makar. I disagree on Bardakov as he can be a solid 3rd or 4th line guy. He’s still learning the game but you can’t teach toughness and a will to fight in the corners and create turnovers. And you can’t teach physicality – – you either have it or you don’t. Brindley has run into a wall, lately, but he still can create chances with his speed. He’s learning, too.… Read more »
I have been a Bardakov supporter, but at this stage he is still developing. He is a better winger than center. Brindley is the same. I have no problem with them being an extra forward, but the Avs need some better 4th liners. I am surprised that Prishchepov has not been called up. He was injured to start the year, but I believe he is healthy now.
Prishchepov has size and the Avs seem adverse to calling him up, for whatever reason. Agree on Bardakov as a winger. I’d like to see Brindley take Oloffson’s place on some shifts. I’ve really soured on Oloffson and his game. Hopefully, LOC will make it back sometime this year.
My son and I have been “screaming” at the Avs and their aversion to calling up Prischy. We continue to call up small dudes. Frankly, Makar isn’t near what he needs to be to be a NHL player even short term, you can tell he’s overwhelmed. I agree about Bardy. He’s one of a few dudes that back checks and gets on the body.
Yep, I have not been feeling Olo or Kivi at all lately. Total trade fodder IMHO.
It’s becoming obvious that MacK was carrying this team for the first half of the year and when he goes cold, we lack depth
Unfortunately, Prishchepov was out for quite a while and hasn’t been back for more than 8 games or so. I’m guessing they want to see a little more from him before a call up. Just a guess but would make sense
Bardakov is exactly what the avs need. Hes literally the only one I ever see backchecking. Plus this is his first year in nhl along with brindley.
Makar however played a little decent but once the avs get fully healthy and maybe some trades they will be extra forwards.
One day left until the Olympic freeze. The Avs need another center, preferably a 3C, a defensive defenseman, and maybe another middle 6 forward who can play on the 2nd line in case of injury.
The center could be too expensive, so a good 4C and maybe a bigger 4th line winger to bring some size to the bottom 6.
This is not a good spot for them to be in. The bottom 6 is dogshit especially if LOC is a lost cause this year. Drury is drowning as 3C. I’ve grown to despise Ross Colton & the way he plays. You hardly notice him out there. The only time he seems to give a shit is when he’s playing up in the lineup. He’s easily the most overpaid player on the roster & it’s not even close. Very little compete, zero play making abilty. They should’ve traded him & kept Coyle. The guy sucks. The rest of bottom 6… Read more »
Drury had some bad giveaways and no aggressiveness. I felt like he was going to apologize for bumping players on the board instead of finishing his checks.
Lol. I like him. But he’s playing above his head. He’s a great 4C & a good penalty killer. But you’re asking a guy who tops out at roughly 10 goals & 20 – 25 pts to be your 3C. On a cup contender…what are we doing here??
Coyle is doing pretty well right now too. Like others though, i knew he was eventually out after that spat with Mack on the bench last year. It’s really too bad.
Yeah everyone references that moment. And maybe that’s a big part of why he got dealt. He also is an east coast guy, so maybe it was a few things. I think it was ultimately more of a cap relief move. Which if so…big mistake & another CMac L. Even if Brindley turns into a player. I posed this to people earlier this year & I’ll pose it again. If it was simply about the cap. Would you rather have Coyle? Or Colton & Olofsson? To me that’s an easy choice. I’ve never understood why most Avs fans think so… Read more »
You aqre right about Taylor Makar