Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Avs rebound like lightning; Rantanen getting close to recall

October 21, 2016, 5:29 PM ET [6 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar got the response he was hoping for Thursday against Tampa Bay following Tuesday's 3-0 loss in Washington.

Playing their most complete game of the young season, the Avalanche (3-1-0) handed the Lightning (3-1-0) their first defeat, a 4-0 decision led by Semyon Varlamov's 27 saves and Matt Duchene's first three points (two goals, one assist) of the year.

With a 2-1 record in the first three games of a difficult four-game road trip, the Avalanche will come home in good shape no matter what happens Saturday in Florida. Not that they should be satisfied with anything but another win, or at least a point.

Varlamov is expected to make his third consecutive start after recording his 21st NHL shutout, his 17th with the Avalanche. He's stopped 64 of 67 shots in the past two games and owns a 5-2-0 career record against the Panthers.

Aside from Duchene breaking through with his first points, the Avalanche were more disciplined than in any of the three previous games. They killed all three Lightning power plays after allowing two power-play goals in each of the first three games.

They also allowed the first two goals in each of the first three games.

"I thought it was a great bounce-back game for our team," Bednar told reporters. "After the way we played in Washington, we were disappointed. To me, (Thursday's game) is probably the new bar for our team. I'm happy we won. I'm more happy by the way we won.

"Lesson learned, I hope, from the other night in Washington where we weren't doing the right things. (Thursday) we were doing the right things. If you do that consistently enough, then you're going to get the results you want."

Andreas Martinsen and Carl Soderberg scored the other goals.

The defense pair of Erik Johnson and Nikita Zadorov had a strong game after a difficult showing against the Capitals. Johnson played 22:20, had two shots, six hits and was plus-1 against the Lightning. Zadorov played 19:37, had one assist, one shot, four hits and was plus-2. Fedor Tyutin played 18:19, had an assist and four hits. Patrick Wiercioch had two assists and was plus-2.

"I think (it was) a great response," Bednar said. "The deal is, games after you win are important, but games after you lose are extremely important. Everyone was holding teammates accountable, and they were ready to work and they were a determined group."

*****

The plan is for forward Mikko Rantanen to make his Avalanche season debut next Friday against Winnipeg at the Pepsi Center, general manager Joe Sakic told the Denver Post. It will be Colorado's first game following their four-game trip.

Rantanen, who turns 20 the next day, has one assist in two games for the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL with three more games to go before he's scheduled to be recalled.

Rantanen, who was Colorado's first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2015 NHL draft, missed all six preseason games while recovering from an ankle injury. He was the AHL's co-Rookie of the Year last season after collecting 24 goals and 36 assists in 52 games with the Rampage.

The Avalanche will need to make a roster move before adding Rantanen to the 23-man roster, whether placing John Mitchell (hip) on injured reserve or assigning a player to San Antonio.



Join the Discussion: » 6 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Rick Sadowski
» One-year deal for Johansson
» One more postseason disappointment
» Bednar cleared to coach tonight; MacKinnon Hart finalist
» Cale Makar a Norris Trophy finalist
» Jost: Do or die Game 5 tonight; Kadri suspension upheld