Adam Werner steals the show in shutout over Winnipeg

“Next man up.”

One of the most reliable axioms across all sports is the idea that when injuries strike, whoever steps in as the replacement has to keep the ball rolling. Life is hard and there’s no time to feel sorry for yourself in pro sports when there’s always a tomorrow to be worried about.

When Philipp Grubauer went down with a minor injury, Pavel Francouz was thrust into the starter’s role. This gave Adam Werner, the fresh-faced Swede with very little experience in North America, an opportunity as the backup.

That opportunity to watch and learn turned into a need to perform as Francouz was hurt just 31 seconds into tonight’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets.

Enter Werner.

40 saves later, Werner had his first NHL win and a debut for the ages in a 4-0 Colorado win.

Colorado picked up their third straight win and won the first game of a five-game road trip and it’s background noise.

Nathan MacKinnon had four points, Joonas Donskoi had three, and Cale Makar added another goal and it’s background noise.

The only noise that mattered on this night was the frustration from Patrik Laine and Co. slamming sticks on the ice because they simply couldn’t solve the Werner riddle.

Things started off slowly for Colorado in the first period as Makar added another bit of brilliance after winning the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. His goal, his fourth in the last week, gave the Avs a 1-0 lead after the first period.

That lead held up through two periods as sloppy play dominated the second period and allowed Werner a chance to flex the highlight muscles a bit.

Heading into the third period up just 1-0 with a rookie goaltender making his unexpected NHL debut, the Avs put their foot down as MacKinnon took over the game.

He scored just 18 seconds into the third period and again at 7:13 to give the Avs a 3-0 cushion. A late power-play goal from Donskoi pushed the game to its final score of 4-0.

Throughout it all was Adam Werner making save after save and turning away whatever chances the Jets conjured up. In a game the Avs eventually ran away with, Werner’s performance stands tallest among all the standouts from tonight.

You never know how things are going to ultimately go but on this night, Colorado’s “next man up” answered the bell as well as one possibly could.

GAME TAKEAWAYS

• Seriously. Adam Werner was incredible. No other note or takeaway from this game should overshadow what a performance that was.
• MacKinnon’s second four-point night in three games should put everyone else on notice. He’s feeling it right now and with the injuries Colorado is facing, he’s putting the offense on his back and dominating stretches of games. Every shift is must-see TV for him.
• The makeshift top line with MacKinnon, Donskoi, and Calvert has found unexpected chemistry. Donskoi’s three points have him on pace to obliterate his career-high in points (37) and goals (14). He scored his ninth goal tonight in the 18th game of the season.
• Speaking of career years, Calvert told me coming into this season his goal was to hit 30 points, which would top his best mark, set last year, of 26 points. After two points tonight, Calvert is sitting on 12 points.
• That kind of balanced attack is exactly what Colorado needed to keep them afloat during this heinous run of injuries. Of course, it always helps when superstar talents like MacKinnon and Makar play like superstar talents. They’re on fire right now and the team’s ability to survive the injuries is looking a lot better right now.
• This Makar stuff is crazy. 18 points through 18 games? You kidding me right now?
• And somehow Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins are still to come on this defense. I’m all for living in the moment, especially when it’s a fun moment like right now, but wow does that future feel warm and fuzzy.
• This team was very loose with the puck tonight. Winnipeg is a dangerous offensive team but giving up 40 shots on goal for the second straight game is discouraging. They need to tighten the screws a bit defensively because they can’t keep relying on 40-save performances regardless of who is in net. That’s an unacceptable total multiple games in a row.
• It’ll be very curious what happens with the goaltending position for the Avs. Colorado brought three goaltenders on the road trip, suggesting Grubauer wasn’t far from coming back, but with Francouz now also down, it’s natural to wonder who might be next in line. Their only other NHL contract at the position is Antoine Bibeau, who has been hurt most of his time in the Avs organization. Hunter Miska is starting for the Eagles now but is on an AHL contract. Maybe Grubauer comes back and solves this issue but if he doesn’t? Carousel time, baby!