DNVR Exclusive: O'Connor continues transition from DU to Avs' future forward

WINDSOR, CO. – When the Texas-born, Calgary-raised Logan O’Connor signed an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche in 2018, few knew at the time bypassing his senior season at the University of Denver would result in playing with the city’s big club by the end of the year.

While it was only a five-game spell in the NHL, O’Connor went from playing as an amateur against other NCHC programs at Magness Arena to playing professionally against the world’s best at the Pepsi Center in a short amount of time.

The changeover has been met with ease, even during his first preseason camp with the Avs with this summer.

“It’s awesome,” O’Connor said. “So fortunate to have the resources at DU that I had there for three years and come right up the road here has been an awesome experiences. It’s been less of a transition for me to pro than it is with most rookies, just based off of I’m used to Colorado. And it’s been great here.”

The 23-year-old forward continued to praise all those that make Loveland the epicenter of hockey for northern Colorado.

“The fans are awesome. The guys are awesome. The staff has done a great job.”

On the topic of bright young players like O’Connor and defenseman Shane Bowers, Eagles’ head coach Greg Cronin applauded their development thus far.

“They’ve played well. They’re going to continue to play well,” shared the coach with over 30 years of experience. “They’re dedicated athletes. I think they’ll respond to the coaching… OC [has been scoring] and we need to get Shane in the scoring column, too.”

The two-game set midweek against the Los Angeles affiliate Ontario Reign featured oscillating 4-0 score lines with each side grabbing a lopsided victory.

On a night centered around Military Appreciation, it was the fans at the Budweiser Event Center Night that couldn’t help but appreciate the all-around display of prowess by the Eagles on Tuesday night. Donning American flag-themed sweaters and playing their best game of hockey in 2019, everyone in the home team’s locker room was satisfied during a 4-0 win.

One night later, it was a different story in a 4-0 loss that was less one-sided than the final score might suggest. “It was an even game,” Cronin said of the defeat on Wednesday. “We didn’t score in our chances. There were a number of saves [goaltender Cal Peterson] made. Highlight-reel saves… We got out-goaltended.”

An empty-netter before the end of the regulation extended the deficit, but biggest indicator it would not be the Eagles’ night came early on a two-minute 5-on-3 power play when Peterson kept Colorado off the board.

However, the promising victory on Tuesday highlighted all the potential for what can go right for the Avs’ top affiliate this season.

“That was our most complete 60 minutes,” O’Connor said. “All three zones, special teams we were buzzing. Coming off a couple losses, we were really hoping to clean up a couple structural things and it really worked out there tonight.”

“It was a tough weekend,” T. J. Tynan said of the back-to-back losses to last place San Diego. “Everyone took a step back and realized we can’t play like that or we’re not going to have success. (It) was great, but it’s just one night. We’ve got to stick with it and keep grinding.”

Tynan, who also recorded his tenth assist of the season, was recalled by the Avalanche for Thursday’s matchup at home against the Nashville Predators for what will be his first NHL appearance since the 2016-17 season. Jayson Megna was reassigned to the Eagles after a lackluster four games with the Avs.

The 27-year-old Tynan was modest when recounting his goal that extended Colorado’s lead to 3-0 in the third. “I didn’t do much,” he laughed. “I opened up and (O’Connor) made a heck of a play. Even more impressive, he beat his guy off the wall. He took two strides and he was gone. I was panicking to keep up with him there. He made a great pass and I didn’t have to do much. It was all OC, for sure.”

In summarizing a game where his club was firing on all cylinders, O’Connor gave a detailed account of how they were able to control the puck so well and force so many errors during the spectacular victory.

“A big focus for us was just using our speed, creating turnovers,” O’Connor indicated. “Having good second pressure down there on forecheck. And then just having good sticks. Going through checks, going through the blade of the stick and that will create more turnovers and create more opportunities for us on the offensive and defensive side of the ice.”

In stopping 30 shots against Ontario, goaltender Adam Werner earned his first AHL shutout to snap a three-game slide Tuesday night.

“He deserves it. He was unbelievable tonight,” O’Connor said of Werner’s performance. “Through traffic, he reads the puck really well. Our D-core helped him out, obviously. He’s a great goalie. He’s played great for us so far. It’s nice to get him the shutout there in the end and finish that off for him.”

Tynan seconded the praise for the 22-year-old netminder.

“Any time you can reward a guy that’s been working as hard as Adam has, is great. He’s played great for us. To get a result like that is really special. We’re all looking at the clock. We all know what it is. Especially in that third period when you go up four goals, some guys want to let down, but our team didn’t do that. I’m pretty proud of them for that. Werner has played great.”

Takeaways

• On Monday, the Eagles recalled forward Travis Barron from the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. Through 10 games this season with Utah, Barron has posted six goals and seven assists. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound winger split the 2018-19 season between the Eagles and Grizzlies, generating five points in 38 games with Colorado and eight points in 12 contests with Utah.
• Over the weekend, the Eagles lost consecutive contests against the last-place San Diego Gulls, allowing ten goals over the two games. The Anaheim Ducks top affiliate recorded their first win of the season on two power play goals and a shorthanded tally during the series.
• Colorado entered the twin bill with the Ontario Reign with a 7-2-0 record all-time against the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate, including a 4-0-0 mark in home games. After extending the win streak to five games on Tuesday, the Reign earned their first points at the BEC.
• A.J. Greer served the final two games of his six-game suspension stemming from a dustup on October 19 against the Milwaukee Admirals. Even with only five games played, Greer still leads the AHL in penalty minutes.
• Jacob MacDonald is atop the ledger in points amongst all Eagles’ blueliners with two goals and five assists. With Greer and recently-promoted Jayson Megna away from the roster, MacDonald played the two games in San Diego at forward.
• Before Wednesday’s affair, forward Julian Nantel had three goals in a five-game span.
• The recipe for success has been rather clear for Colorado: 5-0-0 when scoring the first goal and 4-0-0 the leading after the first period. Conversely, the diagnosis for failure has been equally as obvious: 0-6-0 when trailing after the first period and 0-5-0 when held to two or fewer goals.