At 2-3, there’s no reason for the Colorado Avalanche to start panicking, but it is time for them to start buckling down. Through these five games, we’ve seen the flashes that made this team so special two years ago, but we’ve also seen the flaws that dragged them back down to reality last season.
If the Avalanche are going to go the way of the 2013-14 team, as opposed to the 2014-15 team, these next few games could go a long way towards making that a reality, and nobody knows that more than the players themselves.
Here’s what they’ve had to say:
Patrick Roy on the importance of improving quickly:
“Look at our division. There’s three teams at 10 points already — two at 5-1 and one at 5-2 — that are at the top of our division. We’re going to have to play some really good hockey at home if we want to have a chance to be a part of the playoffs.”
The Avalanche may have only checked five games off their schedule, but even at 82 games, the season moves fast. If you’re not quick off the jump, you can find yourself in a deep hole before you know it.
Neither Roy nor his players want to play like time is on their sides; every game needs to be considered just as important as the next. That seems to be the mentality Roy is instilling in his players, and now we’ll have to see if they come out playing as if there season is on the line.
Erik Johnson on getting more shots on goal:
“You can always shoot more. It sounds simple and cliche, but your gonna score more the more pucks you put at the net. We have such good players in here that you for the perfect play a lot, and sometimes a good play is just putting it on the net and seeing what happens.”
Between Gabriel Landeskog, Nate MacKinnon, Matt Duchene and the rest of the offensive talent on the Avalanche’s roster, there’s no reason why Colorado should be 29th in the NHL for shots on goal.
A big part of the issue stems from the fact that the Avalanche continue to have a tough time keeping control of the puck, but, as Johnson says, it may also come down to the idea that there are just too many cooks in the kitchen.
While having four or five guys who can score from just about anywhere on the ice at any time seems like a huge advantage, it seems as if the Avalanche are allowing it stunt their aggression. Instead putting up a constant barrage of shots on goal, Colorado has been almost too unselfish, looking to find the perfect guy in the perfect spot with the perfect spot.
The problem, though, is that when you lose control of the puck before it gets to where you need it to go, that shot never gets up.
Matt Duchene on being aggressive:
“Knowing when to make a play and knowing when to keep it simple and create some havoc. We have a creative team and sometimes we maybe over complicate things. I think there’s times where we can definitely get more to the net and drive the net. Maybe we don’t score, but we can create some zone time and then those plays we like to make will open up.”
There’s no question that if there’s one person on this Avalanche roster that needs to be more aggressive, it’s Matt Duchene. More so than any other player on the roster, Duchene has gotten off to an extremely slow start, especially per his standards, with only one point through five games.
Everyone knows that Duchene is one of the most naturally gifted offensive players in hockey, but if he’s too hesitant to use those talents, it doesn’t matter.
Duchene is the type of player who should be leading a team in plus/minus, not bringing up the rear, and he needs to use this home stand as an opportunity to get his game back on track.