Copyright yardbarker
Yes, they got three goals from Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, but they also got goals from Olofsson, Zakhar Bardakov, and Parker Kelly as well. They have facilitators throughout the lineup who create chances that might not exist in other systems. The quick-strike ability is something that 99% of other teams would kill for. The Avalanche can score in bunches and did so multiple times against the Devils on Tuesday night. They also lead the NHL in shots with 380, understanding that you can’t score if you aren’t putting the puck on net. Brent Burns is an Underrated Pickup Can we talk about how valuable a pickup Brent Burns has been so far? For a bottom-pair, 40-year-old defenseman, he has brought a calming presence while adding a nice little bit of offense to the back end. Burns is averaging more than 20 minutes per night and has five assists through 11 games. He isn’t the dynamic offensive force that he was during his prime, but the Avalanche knew that coming in. He has the versatility to play on any pairing and not look lost, plus can slide in on the power play when needed. This is the kind of addition that a defense featuring young guns like Sam Malinski and Jack Ahcan needs. He has been there and done that, and the Avalanche are benefitting from his reliability, riding him to the tune of the third-most minutes among Avalanche defensemen. The Power Play is Alive! Other than the win, the other biggest takeaway is that the power play was excellent for the first time all season. They scored on four of their six opportunities, moving the puck well, and exploiting a sweet spot at the top of the circle to the right of Jakob Markstrom.
