The injury bug bit the Colorado Avalanche this week, and it bit hard. Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Nathan MacKinnon, and Erik Johnson left select games with undisclosed week-to-week body injuries. Key depth figures like Matt Calvert, Devon Toews, and Pavel Francouz still face long-term absences with no confirmed return timetables.
The Avs are a resilient bunch, and the remaining lineup has been firing on all cylinders. This week they had a record of 3-0-1 and remain in the hunt for top of the West Division. A big win against the Sharks and two, nearly three, against the Wild built back confidence despite the adversity they have faced this year.
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer has demonstrated excellence as a backstop so far, but Hunter Miska left a lot to be desired and will be returning to the taxi squad in exchange for Adam Werner. The forward depth is elite, and they continue to connect and score in show-stopping ways. Stars like Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog continue to be consistent as ever. Bowen Byram has proven he can play at the NHL level, and he will remain on the roster for the foreseeable future.
If the Avs can play just as strong away as they can at home, and if they can keep playing first class hockey without some of their key players, they will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.
The Good
I’m still excited about the forward depth of this Avs team. Logan O’Connor is making a case to stay on the Colorado Avalanche roster with two goals on three games this week, Nazem Kadri woke up with his big two goal performance against the Sharks last Thursday, and Brandon Saad, J.T. Compher, Valeri Nichushkin, and Joonas Donskoi are making the most of their extended ice time as a result of the injuries on the lineup.
Philipp Grubauer has been insane this season so far, posting a total 7-2 record with a 1.75 GAA and a .930% SV%. He can clamp down just about any offense in the West with his flashy saves and consistent performance. I have no concerns with his role. I miss yelling “GRUUUUUU” at Ball Arena after a tremendous save.
Nathan MacKinnon has his own line of frosted corn flake cereal. The cereal is called “MacKinnon Krunch,” and it’s a limited release only available at Colorado King Soopers locations. Get them while you can!
The Bad
I saw shades of old Colorado Avalanche overtime during their game against the Minnesota Wild last Sunday. This is a team that often buckles and crumbles when the opposing team gains possession of the puck early in overtime, and that was no exception this game. They play far too conservative defensively, and it allowed for Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin to rip a wide open one-timer past Hunter Miska to put the game away. We need to see the 3 on 3 units step up big time. Maybe replicate what we saw a few weeks ago against the Anaheim Ducks?
Philipp Grubauer still doesn’t have quality relief. Pavel Francouz is still out due to an undisclosed lower-body injury, and Hunter Miska left a lot to be desired. I’m hoping that Adam Werner can be better, but he remains unproven at the NHL level.
The Important
Line combinations still haven’t settled due to both chemistry and injury. I am happy though, as every healthy player on offense and defense has helped create successful outcomes this week. I’m hoping that by eating our MacKinnon Krunch cereal every day, we become durable for the long stretch still ahead for this Avalanche team.
Go Avs Go!
My name is Aaron Fesh and I am a contributor to West Division NHL content for Belly Up Sports. I spent the 2019-20 season with the National Hockey League as a member of their NHL Power Players Youth Advisory Board. Please follow @AaronFesh and @BellyUpHockey on Twitter for more hockey content like this!
