Kiz: When superstar Nathan MacKinnon became the latest Avalanche player to be bit by the injury bug, two words immediately sprang to mind. “Ruh roh,” as my old friend Sooby Doo was fond of saying. A Colorado team primed to win the Stanley Cup in the NHL bubble was derailed in its championship quest by more injuries than even a deep and talented roster could overcome. Well, the injury bug seems to be back early this season with a vengeance. Should we be worried?
Chambers: Nah, this is a deeper team. Joe Sakic and his staff have bolstered the depth and, even without MacKinnon, this could be a high-scoring team. The Avs have produced 36 goals in 10 games, ranking third in the NHL behind two teams that have played 11 games. MacKinnon has just two goals, but his absence certainly hurts in play-making ability. He assisted on the Avs’ first two goals Sunday before not coming out of the dressing room for the third period. I watched his last shift in the last minute of the second period and I can’t see any indication of an injury. I have to think MacKinnon won’t be out for long.
Kiz: Captain Gabriel Landeskog thinks it’s better to get the injuries out of the way now, rather than be plagued by them during the playoffs. Who can argue with that idea? Part of the NHL’s great appeal for me is how much the nature of the game and the fortunes of a team can change once the postseason begins. With that in mind, should we really be too concerned about the Avs earning a top seed? And should coach Jared Bednar be more cognizant of resting key players during the regular season?
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5 takeaways from the Avalanche’s 4-3 overtime loss at Minnesota Avalanche loses Nathan MacKinnon to injury, then the game in OT at Minnesota Skill over size, the Avalanche is built on the back end with young stars Avalanche routs Minnesota 5-1 to begin four-game “series” against Wild Chambers: Erik Johnson’s attitude is his biggest strength for AvalancheChambers: The Avs were ravaged by injuries in the regular season in 2019-20, and then it happened again in the playoffs. I think Landeskog is thinking that can’t happen again. Just too much bad luck. As for playoff seeding, I do believe it’s a big deal. I do believe the Avalanche wants to open against a West Division team like Minnesota or Los Angeles, and not have to face St. Louis or Vegas in the first round. This division is shaping up like most of us expected, with the Avs, Blues and Golden Knights clearly as the top teams.
Kiz: With this season’s weird schedule shaped by the unpredictable whims of a pandemic, Bednar takes a philosophical view. “Everyone is rolling with the punches,” he says. Hey, we all know hockey guys are stoic by nature. Spit out the chicklets and get back on the ice. But I’m beginning to wonder: Is this compressed season in the best interest of player health? Playing 56 games in a taxing 116 days limits recovery time. And a schedule that has the Avs playing four straight times against Minnesota invites chippy, dangerous hockey.
Chambers: Maybe that’s why MacKinnon didn’t play in the third period Sunday. Maybe the Avs agreed to not play any guy who isn’t 100%. Maybe MacKinnon said something about a sore groin and one of the equipment managers handcuffed him to his stall. As for the schedule, I love it. I love me a two-game series, and the four-game stretch against the Wild is a beautiful thing. I don’t think it’s going to get too chippy unless we learn one of the Wild players speared MacKinnon in the final minute of the third period.
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