This season has not started the way that Colorado Avalanche forward John Mitchell would have hoped. He got injured in camp, was waived and, after scoring at least 20 points in each of his first four campaigns in Colorado, has yet to find the scoresheet in 17 games.
“It’s been tough sledding for me here, to try and get points,” Mitchell told Mile High Sports after Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Perhaps there has been no better representation of Mitchell’s struggles than the aforementioned contest. He was credited with two points, only to have both snatched away from him.
In the second period, Mitchell was awarded an assist on Comeau’s powerplay marker, but the official scoring was eventually changed, and his helper was instead given to Francois Beauchemin. Then, in the waning minutes of the contest, he again assisted on a Comeau tally, only to see the goal disallowed after review, due to a high stick.
When asked if the NHL is trying to purposefully keep him off of the scoreboard, he said “I don’t know,” with a chuckle. “I’m hoping, at some point, the tide will turn a little bit and things will start going in for me.”
Though he has struggled to find his way offensively, he has found other ways to contribute on the ice. On Thursday, he was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 13 of 16 draws, also chipping in with one hit and one blocked shot.
“Obviously, getting points … goals, assists, stuff like that is nice,” he said. “But there’s other parts of the game that I think I’m doing well at.”
Though he has been playing physical, defensively-sound hockey, it is perhaps faceoffs that have been the strongest point of Mitchell’s game this season. The 31-year-old has a 50.4 percent mark for his career. This season, he is winning 58.8 percent of his draws.
“There’s no rhyme or reason,” he said when asked about his success in the circle. “I’m going into every faceoff and I’m bearing down. I want to win that draw to give our team possession of the puck. Every time I’m going in there, I’m going in hungry.”
