Losses and injuries are becoming a song the Avalanche are tired of singing as they drop their final game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This game follows a devastating loss to Colorado’s core forward, 28-year-old Ross Colton, who was among the NHL’s leaders in goals before his injury. Now sitting and resting a broken foot, it will be at least 6-8 weeks before the Avalanche see him return.
Related: Kaapo Kahkonen to make Avalanche debut; Ross Colton out 6 to 8 weeks with broken foot
The Avalanche also missed forward Miles Wood last night after a nagging upper-body injury he suffered over the past two games finally became more serious. He will miss at least 7 to 10 days.
With the Avalanche also missing a few other key forwards due to injuries, fortunately head coach Jared Bednar was able to provide an update on at least one of those players and when they might return. This player is none other than Artturi Lehkonen.
“We’re aiming for Tuesday against Seattle,” Bednar said when asked about his return last night. Now, that’s not a guarantee, but Lehkonen is participating in the full team skates and seems more than ready to finally return to the fold.
Unfortunately, there are no return projections for Jonathan Drouin or captain Gabriel Landeskog, who hasn’t played since Colorado’s Cup-winning game against the Lightning in 2022.
Regarding Drouin, Bednar said he is “coming into his own” and has finally started taking controlled contact in team skates. “He’s still a little sore…you’ll probably know (when he returns) the day he plays.”
Streaks continue
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar extended their season-opening point streak last night to 11 games.
Makar, who celebrated his birthday last night with a goal, also joined the NHL record books. His streak of 11 consecutive games with a point to start the season becomes the second longest streak in NHL history for a defenseman. His streak is only behind Bobby Orr’s in the 1973-74 season (15 games).
Mandatory credit: Isaiah J. Images by Downing-Imagn
Kaapo Kähkönen makes his season debut
Despite a shaky first half, Kähkönen put in an impressive performance in last night’s match. Coach Bednar seemed impressed with the way he played behind the team.
“You look at those four goals, (Kähkönen) probably wants to get the first one back. It’s a great shot, right in the slot, one-timer, well placed. The other three, he has no chance, you know? .. I think he made a lot of good saves and I don’t think other than those chances they were very dangerous. But he did a good job on any of those goals.
Tampa Bay’s elite passing, speed and positioning led to most of their goals last night. Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring. He sat in the slot as Brayden Point used his speed to his advantage and drove deep into the zone, found Kucherov and scored the Lightning on his first shot of the game.
Jake Guentzel then got things going for the Lightning. Kucherov uses his speed to drive deep into the offensive zone and finds Guentzel, sitting at the near post, with a smart pass from the trapeze. It was the first of the evening for Guentzel.
Just after the Avalanche got their first shot of the night, the Lightning went the other way, and with an elaborate passing sequence past Kähkönen, Conor Geekie put the ball in the net for his second of the year, making it score 3-0 in favor of Tampa Bay.
Before the end of the first period, Colorado’s power play showed why they have the third-best percentage in the league. Striker Ivan Ivan takes a superb shot from Cale Makar (happy birthday, #8!) from the point and scores the second goal of his career.
Mandatory credit: Isaiah J. Images by Downing-Imagn
Coach Bednar had a lot (LOTS!) of good things to say about the rookie forward, noting what an unexpected “bright spot” he was.
“He was great tonight. When you talk about positives besides what you expect. He’s definitely one of them. He’s looking and playing, he’s still learning the game a little bit, and how much I am tough and competitive. I think you have to be to be successful here But he started to use his skating a little more He’s a great skater, a very strong skater and it looks like he has. sometimes the governor’s taste, so we’re. I’m trying to push him to use that to his advantage, and he’s starting to do that. But he plays the game very responsibly. He looks more and more like a seasoned professional every day..In the time he has on the ice he is at the top, if not the top of the league right now, he is doing it and he always finds a way. to contribute, also playing on the power play, and he did a good job in that spot, just supporting the puck, making plays inside and outside of there. It sometimes becomes dangerous. He was really good.
Guentzel scored his second goal of the evening in the second period, the only goal in the 20 minutes. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the most interesting part of the period.
Matt Stienburg, recently recalled by the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, earned not only two minutes for roughing Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons, but also a 5 and a game for charging forward Erik Cernak. “He left his feet,” Bednar said earnestly of the postgame call. An honest review. This play was reviewed at a hearing today, resulting in a two-game suspension. He was sent back to the Eagles earlier today.
Mandatory credit: Isaiah J. Images by Downing-Imagn
Cernak left the game early, appearing injured after the hit.. No update has been provided on when he will return, but the team is hoping for a quick recovery from his injury so he can return as soon as possible.
Cale Makar scored the Avalanche’s only other goal, at 9:03 of the third period. The shot came after a huge push and a few missed chances for the team, and luckily for them, Makar was able to push it away from the blue line.
The final goal, an insurance goal for the Lightning, came from Anthony Cirelli in the form of an empty net. The Lightning finished with a 5-2 victory over Colorado.
What’s next for the Avalanche?
Colorado will practice tomorrow before traveling to Nashville to face the Predators. Nashville is 3-6-1 this season. Filip Forsberg currently leads the team in goals (5) and points (9).
It’s a quick road trip as the Avalanche will return to Ball Arena on Tuesday to face the Kraken with fingers crossed for Lehkonen’s return.
