A lackluster showing at Ball Arena just a few nights prior against a similar Vegas Golden Knights team that resulted in a 6-1 loss, caught the ire of Colorado Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar. The following day’s practice, which was delayed due to some pre-practice meetings, was spirited and had much more of that jam and jump that was lacking in the game the night before.
Bednar sees the ticking clock on the start of the season and understands the challenge that his team faces to start the year, still down some key elements, a few of which still have an uncertain return date. So for the calm but direct bench boss, these last few days of camp and pre-season must require an effort that won’t rely on talent alone.
A long runway to get the 2024-25 NHL season off the ground is lamented about by fans and even players at times, but the proof of its necessity is in these final days where little tweaks and adjustments determine how the regular season begins. Bednar was unhappy with the 6-1 loss, addressed it, and the team adjusted with a game Thursday night against a well-iced Vegas team that looked very much more like Avalanche hockey.
The first 30 minutes of the game were controlled completely by Colorado. They outshot, outpaced, and outscored Vegas. Cal Ritchie played on the big line and picked up an assist on the game’s first goal after starting the play with a won board battle and a pass to Nathan MacKinnon whose beauty of a sauce pass found Jonathan Drouin’s stick for the lead. Justus Annunen had light work through 20, seeing just 6 shots, all of which he turned away.
In the second, a consistent standout continues to be the young Sam Malinski. The defenseman demonstrates a calmness and poise beyond his age and experience. He would make it a 2-0 game early, capitalizing on blown coverage by the Knights and significant open ice. Parker Kelly did the work low to retrieve a puck deep after Logan O’Connor did the dirty work in a board battle. Malinski pinched in to the top of the circle and found himself alone and in perfect position for the pass that he fired past Ilya Samsonov.
At the halfway mark of the game, the Knights found their gear and went into pressure mode. It resulted in a Jack Eichel power-play goal to cut the lead to 2-1. The Avalanche responded, and for the better part of the rest of the game did a nice job keeping the Knights pushed to the outside. Logan O’Connor would add an empty net goal in the third, and the Avalanche picked up their first win of the preseason in their best effort yet.
The fellas headed straight to Utah following the win and will spend the downtime with some pre-season bonding before the final exhibition game on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. It’s crunch time now for the staff to get that roster to 23 men before Monday, but the shape of this season’s Avalanche is certainly becoming clear.