As important as it was for Mikkel Boedker to break out of his slump with two goals Wednesday in the Avalanche's 3-1 win in Vancouver, having Andreas Martinsen score a big goal was pretty significant as well.
Martinsen's goal was his second in three games after sitting out five consecutive games (and missing two others while on a brief assignment in San Antonio), and he looked like a legitimate power forward while muscling his way to the net before scoring an impressive third-period goal against goalie Ryan Miller.
Playing right wing on a line with Shawn Matthias and Carl Soderberg while Gabriel Landeskog serves his three-game suspension, Martinsen had two shots on goal, four hits and a blocked shot in 10:40 of ice time.
After it took 44 games for the 6-3, 220-pounder to score his first two NHL goals, Martinsen is gaining more confidence with his offense and looking more like a player who can do more than check guys against the boards.
He scored an impressive goal a week ago against Anaheim, putting a backhand shot by goalie John Gibson after taking a return pass from Matt Duchene and cutting through the slot.
Martinsen, 25, is from Norway and spent three years playing in Germany when the Avalanche signed him last May as a free agent, so he's playing in North America for the first time. He played parts of five seasons in Norway and two others in Sweden.
"I'm still learning," he said. "This is the best league in the world and it goes fast out there. It's nice to score goals, but I know I need to play a physical game. I have to take advantage of every opportunity and that's what I'm trying to do."
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Boedker had one goal and two assists in six games following his Feb. 29 acquisition from Arizona, not exactly the kind of production the Avalanche were seeking from the speedy forward.
So coach Patrick Roy met with him Wednesday morning in an attempt to bump up his confidence.
"My thoughts were he was playing really well and he just needed to play with more confidence and things will turn around for him," Roy told reporters. "I really feel his game is right there and sometimes if you are just more confident around the net things will go your way. I thought that's what he did."
Boedker tied the game in the first period after Duchene's pass for Jarome Iginla bounced off his stick. The puck went to Boedker in the left slot for an easy goal. He put the Avalanche ahead 37 seconds into the third period with a power move to the net.
"We all want to be a difference maker and make good plays and make things happen," Boedker said. "It’s huge for your confidence."
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Defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk replaced Chris Bigras, who missed his fourth game while recovering from a concussion and was to be re-evaluated in Calgary. The Avalanche play the Flames on Friday in the second game of their three-game trip.
"If he's cleared, then he'll play," Roy said. "If he (isn't), then we'll wait."