Avs-Devils Instant Reaction: 8-goal second period can’t stop a white-hot power play performance

After a consistent gripe about the Colorado Avalanche‘s power play performance in the last seven of ten games, Martin Necas started an onslaught of goals from the Avs on the man advantage, four of which contributed to their 8-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils, being the pesky, conference-leading team they are, put on a 5:16 goal-scoring clinic, tallying 4 goals in that time span. The Avalanche ultimately shut them down with a slew of different goal-scorers, including a two-goal performance from Nathan MacKinnon and a hat trick from Victor Olofsson.

While he didn’t get the start tonight, Mackenzie Blackwood did sit on the bench to back up Scott Wedgewood. It’s the first time he’s appeared on the lineup sheet this season. Trent Miner was placed on waivers this morning, meaning fans can likely expect Blackwood to be making a full return to the season after rehabbing an injury sustained during the offseason.

That’s progress, right?

Is the power-play fixed?

The Avalanche scored four goals on the power play tonight.

This has been the largest area of concern for this team since game 3 of the season. Since their game against the Dallas Stars on October 11th, the Avs have only converted on the power play once, and that was after seven tries on the man-advantage against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In their last seven games:

• 10/13: 0-4
• 10/16: 0-1
• 10/18: 0-5
• 10/21: 0-1
• 10/23: 1-8
• 10/25: 0-3
• 10/26: 0-2

After shuffling the units (and the roster as a whole a few times), it seems something has finally clicked for this squad. A small sample size given the last few results, but a promising return if this is something they can check off of their “fix it” list.

Victor GOALofsson

This is a guy who, for lack of better words, has caught the short end of the stick through ten games as a member of the Avs. I’ve said consistently that, with the way he’s been shooting, he’s bound to get rewarded sooner rather than later.

Tonight was finally the night.

One on the power play, two at even strength, and all three being gorgeous goals, Victor Olofsson has finally been rewarded for being the player the Avs saw him as when they signed him this past offseason.

He led the team in shots on goal with 7, and three of them went in. A shooting percentage like that isn’t sustainable, but it sure seems like a few shots were due to go his way after his performances as of late.

Avs postgame podcast