November 12th 2024.
Jared Bednar, head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, has been emphasizing the need for his defensemen, aside from Cale Makar, to contribute more offensively. And on Monday night, his wish was granted. Both Samuel Girard and Devon Toews scored their first goals of the season in a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena. This comes after Sam Malinski also scored his first goal of the season just two nights ago in a win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bednar spoke about the importance of involving the defense in the offensive side of the game, a strength that the Avalanche have had for years. He expressed his satisfaction with seeing his players being rewarded for their efforts and their increased involvement in the offensive plays.
Girard's goal in overtime was a perfect example of this, as he took advantage of a stumble from Nashville's Brady Skjei, drew a penalty in the neutral zone, and skated in for a breakaway goal. Girard credited it to a split-second decision and a good read on the situation. He also expressed his joy at being able to contribute in such a crucial moment for his team.
In addition to the strong offensive performance from the defense, goalie Alexandar Georgiev made 29 saves, once again proving to be a key player for the Avalanche. Similar to their previous game, the Avalanche found themselves trailing early on, but they were able to come back strong in the second period.
It was their second power-play unit that scored first, with Toews finding the back of the net just 4:32 into the second period. This goal came just after the Nashville penalty expired, with T.J. Tynan also picking up his second career point on the play.
The Avalanche's top line also made a significant impact, with Nathan MacKinnon getting the team their lead at 11:37 in the second period. He carried the puck into the offensive zone and then passed it off to Joel Kiviranta, who had just stepped onto the ice. Kiviranta then found Mikko Rantanen for a one-timer, resulting in Rantanen's ninth goal of the season. This assist also marked MacKinnon's 30th point of the season, making him the first player in the NHL to reach this milestone.
The third period saw Nashville score early on, tying the game at 2-2. However, the Avalanche were able to hold their own, with Georgiev once again making crucial saves to keep his team in the game.
The Avalanche have struggled in first periods lately, but Georgiev's strong performances have helped keep them in the game. And with their defensemen stepping up offensively, the team is starting to see more positive results. In addition, reinforcements are on the way, with Valeri Nichushkin expected to return from a six-month suspension and Jonathan Drouin getting close to returning from an upper-body injury.
Mikko Rantanen spoke about the determination of the team's replacement players, who have been doing a great job in the absence of their injured teammates. However, he also expressed the team's eagerness to have their best lineup out on the ice.
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