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10 Takeaways: Avalanche Goals Keep Coming; Bednar Holds Malinski Accountable
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- 10 Takeaways: Avalanche Goals Keep Coming; Bednar Holds Malinski Accountable
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It didn't take long for the Colorado Avalanche to bounce back from their first loss of the season. Less than 24 hours after a frustrating finish in Winnipeg, the Avs put up seven goals against the Calgary Flames to pick up a 7-3 win and improve to 3-1-0.
There was plenty to unpack from Colorado's back-to-back games, from Jared Bednar's decision to scratch Sam Malinski to another offensive outburst and a couple of young players making their mark. I unpack it all below.
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Also Read: Postgame: Avalanche Score Seven, Defeat Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome
10 Takeaways
1.I wanted to start with Sam Malinski being scratched. He was one of five skaters to play all 82 games last season, and it took just four games for him to get sat by the head coach.
Jared Bednar said before the road trip that he felt Malinski had a slow start to the season and training camp. That was before his rough performance in Winnipeg. I'd imagine this will serve as a wake-up call for the defenseman, who is in the first of a five-year contract paying him $4.75 million per season.
2.I'm going to write about the new guys soon, but make no mistake about it, none of this would be possible without Noah Juulsen .
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This feels like the first time Bednar has had a reliable No. 7 defenseman since Jack Johnson in 2022, and even then, it was only for a short stint after Josh Manson was acquired ahead of the trade deadline. Juulsen has played well in the three games he's been involved in — all of which have led to Colorado wins. To have him as a No. 7 gives Bednar the ability to hold players accountable. I don't think Malinski is going to sit every night — he might not miss another game.
But for this one night, Juulsen being an option gave Bednar the chance, in early October, to send a message to one of his guys. Good work by Joe Sakic on that pickup.
3.The Avs have 23 goals through four games, the highest total in the NHL to open a season since the Wayne Gretzky-led 1993-94 Los Angeles Kings.
4.How are they doing this? As usual, it starts with the stars at the top of the lineup. Nathan MacKinnon has eight points and Cale Makar has three. There are also a lot of depth guys pitching in, like Jaden Schwartz (three goals, three assists) and Parker Kelly (goal, four assists).
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It's also being made possible by the many, many two-goal games they've had already. Artturi Lehkonen and MacKinnon each had two on opening night. Against St. Louis, Martin Necas put up two. On Thursday, the Avs had two goals from each of Devon Toews, Makar, and Schwartz.
Not a single hat trick (yet), but six two-goal performances in four games is quite the feat.
5.It also helps that they've completely lit up three different goalies. The Avalanche put eight past Darcy Kuemper, seven past Devin Cooley, and six past Jordan Binnington
They have 23 goals in four games and not a single one came on an empty net.
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6.Speaking of Toews, he had just three goals in 68 games last season. I'd imagine it feels good for him to already score a couple as he works back toward the offensive production we saw over the previous five seasons.
7.What better place to do it than Scotiabank Saddledome? The Avs are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games against the Flames, their second-longest active point streak against another team. The Avalanche's trip to the legendary Saddledome was the second-last time they'll play there.
In fact, the next time Colorado plays in Calgary will be the second-last home game the Arena will ever host.
8.Kudos to T.J. Hughes for getting his first career NHL point. It's been a learning curve for the young forward, but he seems to gel pretty well with that strong second line alongside Fedor Svechkov and Schwartz. Many more to come for Hughes, including the first goal he's getting closer to scoring. He had a team-leading six shots on goal against the Flames.
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9.Zachary L'Heureux made an impression in Winnipeg with five hits in his first game, and he followed it up with a setup on MacKinnon's goal, a fight, and two shots on goal. One of those shots came on a breakaway when the Avs led 6-1. L'Heureux tried to beat Cooley five-hole, but it was stopped.
L'Heureux was visibly upset going to the bench. He slammed his stick on the ice in frustration. Again, the Avs were up by five goals. It's just another look at how badly this guy wants to succeed and how badly he wanted to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick.
10.I hate writing this because I wish I didn't have to. My thoughts and prayers go out to Logan O'Connor and his family for the sudden passing of his father, Myles. I watched the Calgary Flames' stream on Thursday night and Eric Francis of Sportsnet spoke highly of Myles, who was well known in the Calgary community.
I'm not sure what happened or when, and the details don't really matter. I just hope Logan takes all the time he needs to be with his family. I'm sure it was a coincidence, but being in Calgary when the news got out must've been ideal. O'Connor, who was supposed to play that game at the Saddledome, was instead able to take a personal leave to be with his family. As much as he wanted to play, this was more important.
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I hope the O'Connor family finds peace in a difficult time.
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