Immediately, right from the initial puck drop, today’s game has been a vast improvement from Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders. Avs battle it out and force overtime, ultimately winning 3-2 over the New York Rangers.
Despite a few really good plays by Brock Nelson and Cale Makar don’t create anything in the first period. Avs looked a little off, but overall, while they may not have scored, they didn’t allow anything either, which is a win.
The second period, however, was a decent improvement. Aside from a slight five-minute lull, the Avs had that period in hand. A timely goal from Colorado’s depth in Parker Kelly.
They lead for a while, but just under five minutes into the third, Connor Sheary scores his first of the season to tie things up for the Rangers.
Lo and behold, Nathan MacKinnon, who maybe hasn’t had his best two-game stretch of the season, bats a puck in to regain Colorado’s lead.
But, with 40.9 seconds remaining, Artemi Panarin tips home the equalizer to force overtime.
And as much as I loathe putting MacKinnon and Martin Necas out together during 3-on-3 overtime, it worked tonight. With some fancy stickwork from MacKinnon, the Avs get back in the win column to win 3-2, becoming the first NHL team to 20 wins this season.
Something has to be done about the power play
It is unfathomable to me that a power play with players like Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar (and that’s just the first unit) can be as unsuccessful as they have been.
And your second unit has Brock Nelson, Ross Colton (who has been incredible in every aspect but on the scoresheet), and Valeri Nichushkin.
With some iteration of those players combined, the Avs have converted on the power play three times in the last 10 games. Three.
When you have that much offensive talent on your team, how is it possible for the man-advantage to play that poorly?
I’m not sure what needs to be fixed, whether it’s a cycling issue, putting an emphasis on shooting more, or simply finding unit combinations that gel better together, but something needs to change. It’s hard to believe the issue is coaching personnel when two seasons in a row with two different power play coaches, that things can continue to trend this poorly.
A better game from Mackenzie Blackwood
I’m taking this point with a very large grain of salt, because any performance is better than the one over half the team put on against the New York Islanders on Thursday. All that said, I think Mackenzie Blackwood had a much better game tonight.
Neither of the Rangers’ goals are on him tonight, I can very confidently say that. And while the team in front of him made his job easier tonight, 24/26 shots saved is something to be satisfied with.
Tonight (today?), Blackwood posted a .923 SV%. After posting a .878 on Thursday, I’d call this a major win for him tonight. A night like tonight is maybe the realistic expectation for a guy like him, but Blackwood has to be pretty proud of himself with that kind of bounce back from Thursday.
Despite that, he was given third star tonight, behind Igor Shesterkin at second… So take with that what you will.