In completing a four-game road trip, Colorado turned to its top-line wingers and goaltender Phillip Grubauer on Wednesday to finish 3-1.
Albeit the Avalanche’s focus postgame was elsewhere despite a 4-0 shutout over the San Jose Sharks at Sap Center.
The performances of Mikko Rantanen (two goals, two assists), Gabe Landeskog (goal, three assists) and Grubauer (26 saves) were overshadowed by a third-period injury to superstar Nathan MacKinnon.
The center of the Avalanche’s top line was on the receiving end of a check to the head from rookie Joachim Blichfeld, sending him to the locker room with a bloody mouth. MacKinnon did not return to the game.
“He seems to be doing well,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of MacKinnon. “I think we get lucky on it. As of right now he seems to be fine.”
MacKinnon stayed down on the ice momentarily before being escorted to the locker room with a trainer.
Blichfeld received a five-minute major and was ejected from the game. Colorado capitalized on that lengthy power play with a goal from Landeskog.
Rantanen, who scored the game-winning goal, completed Colorado’s four-game road trip with eight points, all of which came in the three victories.
“Playing on the first line you have to produce some points to help the team win,” Rantanen said.
Landeskog has now scored a power-play goal in three straight game after going 10 games without a goal.
“It was nice in Arizona to get on the board,” Landeskog said of breaking out of his goalless drought. “It starts getting a little mental and you try not to let it bother you too much. It’s just nice to end that streak and turn the page. That game got us going the right way.”
Sam Girard also scored for Colorado, his second in as many games.
Grubauer’s third shutout of the season and second against the Sharks puts him in a tie for first in the NHL. He has started 17 of Colorado’s 20 games.
Rantanen’s opening goal in the second period was a one-timer set up by MacKinnon. It’s the 15th time the Avs have scored the opening goal. Colorado did it all four times on this road trip but surrendered six consecutive goals against San Jose on Monday to fall 6-2.
The team had a meeting this morning to talk about that collapse, which also happened less than a week ago at home against Minnesota. And the response they delivered was just what they had hoped for heading into a crucial homestand that will see them play nine games in just 16 nights.
“We had a meeting and everyone understood what the situation was,” Rantanen said. “We responded well.”
MacKinnon is the latest in a string of injuries to some of the Avalanche’s more vital players. Rookie defenseman Bo Byram missed his second consecutive game after suffering an upper-body injury in Arizona. Star defenseman Cale Makar and veteran forward Matt Calvert missed their third straight game.
The trio joined defenseman Erik Johnson and backup goalie Pavel Francouz on the injured list. Johnson has played just three games in 2021 and Francouz has yet to dress in a game. Both are not close to returning to the lineup.
“The adversity this team has faced this year with COVID and injuries and guys out of the lineup. Even missing Frankie right out of the gate. It’s a significant amount of adversity,” Bednar said. I’m not giving our guys excuses but I just think we’re trying to find a way to move through it. It’s not perfect every night but we’re getting to a point where we’re learning what this team has to do to win hockey games.”
Toews and Girard carry the load: Just as they did in the previous two games without Makar in the lineup, defenseman Devon Toews and Girard logged more than 25 minutes of ice time. Toews once again led the way at 26:08 after playing a career-high 27:02 on Monday. Girard was not far behind, logging 25:38.
Milestones: Landeskog’s power-play goal, his 55th in an Avalanche uniform, is the fourth most in team history. The Swedish forward passed fellow Swede Peter Forsberg, who had 54 during his Avalanche career. MacKinnon recorded his 322nd career assist to move into fourth place in assists in an Avalanche uniform.
