New-look Avalanche flex a scary balanced offensive attack

With the trade deadline firmly behind the Colorado Avalanche, the latest additions to the team fit in seamlessly. In the words of Avs head coach Jared Bednar, “Oh what a start.” Brock Nelson hit the post and picked up an assist in the first 6:08 of the first period and saw fellow new guy Charlie Coyle snag an assist on a game-tying goal in the third period.

Those contributions were key as the Avs fought back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-4. It was an extremely busy couple of days for the Avs as they brought in Nelson, Coyle, and Erik Johnson, who was scratched tonight. The new additions at center gave the Avs enviable depth down the middle and Nelson slotted into the second line with Coyle on the third. That moved Jack Drury from the third line to the fourth.

That increased depth was on display throughout the game as the Avs really took it to Toronto at points in this game and won their fifth straight overall and moved to 5-0 on this homestand with one left. Let’s talk about how the Avs managed to get these two points.

Val Nichushkin, Avalanche (not so) secret weapon

Look, everyone knows the Avs record with Nichushkin versus without over the last half-decade is very different. With Nichushkin, they win hockey games. He’s such a perfect fit in the skate-heavy, attack-oriented way the Avs want to play that he unlocks a different level of dominance when he’s in the lineup.

Tonight was his fifth game back from injury and while he had a goal and an assist in the first four, tonight he blew up with the first regular-season hat trick of his career and added an assist for a four-point night. He had been borderline dominant at times since his return, but tonight was the first time he put the Avalanche on his back and carried it.

It started early with a great tip-in goal to make it 1-0 Avs. After Toronto tied it, Nichushkin and Nelson got to work showing off their chops together. Part of the appeal of pairing them is each of them has an elite size-speed-hands combination. Putting it all together is going to be dangerous, but it was not expected to be lethal immediately.

We saw Nelson win a puck battle along the wall in a 1v2 situation and move the puck to Nichushkin, who beat Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz for his second of the first period. It restored Colorado’s one-goal lead at 2-1, but the Avs would eventually fall behind and have to build their way back in.

Once Colorado did that, they found themselves up 5-4 in the third period and Nichushkin came in for the icing on a comeback cake (phrasing?). Nichushkin’s empty-net goal made it 6-4 and effectively put the game away and gave him a hat trick. He snagged an assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s ensuing empty-net goal, which was particularly amusing because MacKinnon looked back and tried to get Nichushkin the puck for a fourth goal, but couldn’t make it happen. MacKinnon took what was there and got his second goal of the game and moved him to the 100-point plateau on the season.

Nichushkin’s play has been a huge reason for Colorado’s success on this homestand as he has helped the Avs offense roar back to life.

Nelson and Coyle each make an impact

It was a tough night for both Nelson and Coyle (this makes them sound like detectives?) in the faceoff circle and they had struggles defensively at times, but they fit in nicely on their lines and each made solid plays offensively to help propel the Avs offense forward while they waited for MacKinnon to continue his home point streak. (I believe he has points in 69 of his last 74 home games now)

The thing about the trade deadline is it will take time for players to fit into their new team’s systems and how they want to play while the guys who have been there all year are drilling down into the real details of how they want to win. Their defensive assignments are going to take time to get sorted, and we saw that with Nelson tonight. He got lost a little bit and seemed unsure of himself at times, but the help he gave offensively effectively canceled it out.

In 15:24 of 5v5 time, Nelson was on the ice for 10 scoring chances for and six against and four high-danger chances for versus just two against, so it wasn’t a huge problem. That’s what you’re looking for from him.

Coyle was asked to be more of a defensive player and similarly had solid numbers. His highlight came in the third period as he got the puck behind Toronto’s net and faked like he was going to cycle, instead spotting Jonathan Drouin alone in front and found him for the game-tying goal.

The duo finished with two assists but instantly made their respective lines better and more dangerous. They helped create the balance that has not consistently existed this season for the top-heavy Avs. If they can bring that kind of physicality and heaviness to the game consistently (they can, it’s who they are and why they were brought in) and add that offensive punch, this Colorado team got much harder to beat in a best-of-seven series.

Let’s talk about that lineup balance

The Avs had 18 skaters tonight. 14 recorded a point with the only ones failing to get on the scoreboard being the fourth line of Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, and Logan O’Connor, and somehow Sam Girard, who finished with zero points despite being on the ice for three Avalanche goals.

While it took time for MacKinnon to get it going, he finished with two goals. His first was the game-winning goal on a power play in the third period while his second was the freebie that he tried to give to Nichushkin. The Avs needed a big moment from their top forward and he delivered in a tie game in the third period with a brilliant shot over Stolarz’s shoulder.

Despite the goals, the best player on Colorado’s top line was arguably Martin Necas, who was brilliant with the puck throughout and came thisclose to scoring a goal or two of his own. He led the Avs in shots on goal with six.

We saw Ross Colton continue his recent hot streak as he notched two more assists. The improved quality of linemates might impact Colton the most as his hair-on-fire playstyle needs some finishing talent around him and Coyle provides that. Of course, Joel Kiviranta finding that goal-scoring touch again (even if it was accidental on his goal tonight) makes life a lot easier.

Defensively, Colorado’s scoring leader was Sam Malinski, who was heavily involved in trade talks over the last few weeks, with two assists. Partnered alongside Girard in this game, they completely dominated together. Toronto only generated four scoring chances and one high-danger chance against a pairing that most would say is the weakest link on Colorado’s defense if they play together in a playoff series. Their ability to move pucks together clicked again, however, and we saw the best they had to offer.

Malinski looked like a man possessed for much of the night while Girard rebounded to normal form after a few games of being poor or worse.

This was a lineup that saw better balance in minutes distribution at 5v5 and found the heart to erase a 4-2 Toronto lead in the second period.

They just kept at it and everyone chipped in. It’s only one game and all, but this looked like a Stanley Cup contender. This was one of the few Avs games this season that I felt like I was watching a team with a chance to be special.

I hope we see this same kind of energy on Monday night when the Avs host a streaking Chicago team (phrasing again?) with a chance to sweep their six-game homestand.