Grigorenko responds to benching with standout performance

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Colorado Avalanche forward Mikhail Grigorenko’s NHL career certainly hasn’t been the slam dunk success story every kid dreams of when they break into the world’s most talented hockey league.

Between being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and then sent back and forth between his junior team and the American Hockey League, then publicly written off by the team’s General Manager and ultimately traded, it’s been a rocky start for the 22-year old from Russia.

A white-hot preseason that saw him scoring seemingly at will gave way to a regular season where he has slowly worked his way down the team’s lineup, culminating in being a healthy scratch last Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. That fall from grace was meant to be a wake-up call from head coach Jared Bednar.

Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks, Grigorenko sent a message of his own: I hear you, Coach. Unlike a game of telephone, the communication appears to have landed on both ends as Bednar talked up his mercurial young forward despite the team’s 3-2 shootout loss.

“I thought that was his best game that I’ve seen since exhibition,” Bednar said. “He was skating and hanging onto the puck and going to the net just like a determined player tonight for me. That’s what we need from him every night. I love that response from him.”

Grigorenko’s return to the lineup was marked by a return to scoring line duties after a couple games of playing alongside enforcer Cody McLeod. Instead, he flanked the left wing of center Carl Soderberg and right wing Matt Duchene. The line produced a game-tying goal halfway through the second period on a puck Grigorenko ultimately batted out of the air and into the net.

“It was just in the moment,” Grigorenko said of the baseball-style goal. “The puck was bouncing around and I was just whacking at it and I was lucky enough to put it in.”

The goal was just the second of the season for Grigorenko and only his seventh point, both marks a bit disappointing for a forward with his puck skills. For a player whose game often waxes and wanes like the cycles of the moon, it was an important moment for him in his first game back in the lineup, even if the ultimate outcome left him disappointed.

“For sure it felt good to score a goal,” Grigorenko admitted. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done but I think there are some positives I can take out of this game.”

One of the positives is playing on a line with Duchene, whose assist on Grigorenko’s goal gave him 13 points on the season, good for second on the team behind just Nathan MacKinnon. The familiarity with Duchene, who has been Grigorenko’s most common linemate among the many he’s had since arriving in Denver, played a big role in tonight’s success.

“I think me and Dutchy have some chemistry and it helps playing with someone who centers each other,” Grigorenko told BSN Denver. “I think we had some pretty good looks out there. I’m in a good situation here to succeed and it makes it much easier.”

One factor in the transition back into playing that wasn’t the easiest was his move back to the wing, where he has struggled all season. Previously, Grigorenko was centering his own line and seeing a little success. The move isn’t the easiest but he feels he can handle anything the Avalanche coaching staff throws his way.

“I wouldn’t say it’s easy but I can’t really control that,” Grigorenko said. “Whatever day they put me in I’m comfortable playing any of the positions at forward.”

Despite his personal success on the night, there was no lack of frustration from Grigorenko after the game as he talked about how the team needs to stop putting itself in holes early in games, a consistent theme throughout this season so far.

“I think we’ve got confidence that we’re a good team and can score goals but I don’t think we should have been down in the first place,” Grigorenko went on to say. “We can’t make those mistakes. We have to take care of business defensively and play with the lead.”

While the team as a whole continues to adjust to its new coach and his elevated expectations, Mikhail Grigorenko is one again looking to solidify his place in the lineup. He hopes tonight went a long way towards convincing the coaching staff he belongs on the NHL ice they’re giving him.

“I hope so,” Grigorenko stated. “I was trying to move my feet and win battles. I thought I was pretty engaged tonight and, hopefully, the coaches noticed it. I was happy to be out there.”

If the Avalanche as a team are going to experience success, they need Grigorenko to be more than simply happy being out there. They’re going to need him to continue to produce, especially when playing alongside the team’s assortment of top forwards. Tonight was a good step towards that but it needs to become something regular.