Avs-Oilers Game 82 Studs & Duds

Studs

Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon registered two assists in the first period to get to 140 points on the season and officially be the sole owner of the greatest statistical season in franchise history, besting even some of the 1980s-juiced production when the team was in Quebec.

It’s incredible to think that MacKinnon, who couldn’t even muster a 20-goal season in the disastrous 2016-17 season, had a 50-goal campaign while far surpassing any regular season ever had by Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg, two players who won the Hart Trophy while wearing Avalanche sweaters.

It would be a fitting end for MacKinnon to win the same award, but his insane season just happened to come the same year as a scoring explosion leaguewide and three other candidates with outrageous numbers of their own.

MacKinnon finished four points shy of Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross Trophy, who is considered his strongest competition as the league’s MVP. Tonight was MacKinnon being MacKinnon, snagging a couple of assists as the catalyst of premier puck-moving in the offensive zone.

Once the Avs built their four-goal lead, the entire game downshifted for both teams and the intensity dropped considerably. MacKinnon had done his damage and largely coasted the rest of the night.

Valeri Nichushkin

This guy hasn’t had many quality nights since his most recent return and he wasn’t playing with the same kind of speed and tenacity that are hallmarks of his two-way game. He struggles to be an impact player when his skating isn’t ramped all the way up and we saw him playing with the kind of fluidity that exemplifies his work when he’s changing games.

Both of his goals are largely the result of other players making great plays and him just finishing them off, but with a career-high 28 goals this season, finishing was arguably what he did best for the Avalanche this year. The first goal is a brilliant passing play between his linemates and he just fired a one-timer home, but the second is where he really made a difference on Colorado’s offense this season: standing in front of the net on the power play.

Without Gabe Landeskog, Colorado has struggled to produce offense from the crease area and Nichushkin added that as a more consistent element to his offensive arsenal and it was transformative for the Avs. When he was at his best at the netfront, Colorado’s power play, in particular, went through streaks of pure dominance.

Nichushkin had chances to get the hat trick but could not quite close the deal. He becomes one of their x-factors against the Winnipeg Jets in Round 1. Hopefully this performance gives him a confidence boost.

Justus Annunen

He was spotted a four-goal lead in the first period and gave one up on a deflection in front, but after that Annunen slammed the door shut and was great…again.

This was the kind of performance we’ve seen from Annunen a few times in the second half of this season as he used his combination of size and athleticism to make a handful of brilliant saves throughout the way but also shut down some of Edmonton’s best scoring chances, including a clean breakaway.

The Oilers never really made a serious push to get back into the game, but a few saves from Annunen shut down the prospect of a meaningful comeback attempt. Given the lineups in this game, this kind of score was expected and it’s common wisdom to believe Alexandar Georgiev will go in Game 1 against the Jets, but Annunen’s string of strong performances down the stretch has to at least tempt Jared Bednar into having a short leash on Georgiev.

Zach Parise

This was the 1,254th and final regular season game of Parise’s great career. Him getting a goal reminiscent of his prime as he went to the front of the net and perfectly placed a one-timer for his fifth goal of the season was a great moment.

Parise has been a solid contributor in his 30 games and his ability to produce a little offense from the bottom-six role he inhabits will be vital to Colorado in a playoff run as they try to give him a Ray Bourque-like send-off to retirement.

Duds

Jonathan Drouin

This has nothing to do with Drouin’s play and everything to do with the lower-body injury Drouin suffered in the second period. He did not return to the game and Jared Bednar’s non-answer after the game was not reassuring that his revitalized winger is going to be okay.

There’s no practice tomorrow and the team will travel to Winnipeg on Saturday, but fingers crossed that Drouin will be healthy enough to go in Game 1 and keep his renaissance season going alongside running mate MacKinnon.

Beyond this injury, I don’t really see a major negative. Colorado had a three-goal lead halfway through the first period, so the final 50 minutes of this game was a spirited practice session for both sides. There just isn’t a lot of meaning to be drawn from it so I’m not going to nitpick any of it. Hopefully Drouin is okay.

Unsung Hero

Casey Mittelstadt

I thought Mittelstadt was flying around early in the game and creating great scoring chances for his linemates, which is what he does best. He helped start the great passing play that resulted in Nichushkin’s first goal.

The Avs absolutely need Mittelstadt’s best as he goes into his first-ever postseason and hopefully this can be a step in that direction after a tough last two weeks for Colorado’s 2C.