It wasn’t the result the Colorado Avalanche wanted, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.
After having ten days off and having to travel across the country, the legs just weren’t there for the Avalanche, as they fell 2-1 in overtime to the New York Rangers. They get right back at it tomorrow in New Jersey, but this is one of the easier back-to-backs in the NHL in terms of travel, as it’s a quick ride up the street to the Prudential Center.
Devon Toews liked the structure of the team, but mentioned the energy faded as the game went on. Alexandar Georgiev discussed playing in New York, and using his brief time on the ice at the All-Star festivities to refresh. Meanwhile, Jared Bednar played coy on who the Avalanche will start on Tuesday, as well as what the recall of Sam Malinski means.
Check out video from the locker room, as Colorado Hockey Now was live on the scene at Madison Square Garden.
Devon Toews
Toews on the Third Period and what changed for the Avalanche:
“Just a lack of energy. I didn’t think our commitment to defending was bad in any sense. It was pretty structurally, a pretty good game, especially coming off an 8 or 10 day break, whatever it was. We had pretty good legs through two, but kind of faded through three. For the most part our structure was pretty good.”
Georgiev on if he was able to mentally refresh, despite going to the All-Star weekend:
“Yeah, I think so. I think it was pretty good to actually be on the ice a couple days there, even if it’s for 5 minutes, but you still kind of get the feeling and I feel that helped me kind of be pretty sharp today.”
Jared Bednar
Bednar on the game overall:
“I don’t think we did enough after getting the lead to extend that lead, or make it tougher. I thought they actually got more jump as the game went on, and we looked like we were maybe a little bit tired.”
Bednar on the first period:
“I did (like the start). Skating early, drawing penalties, a lot going on for us in the first period. Would have been nice to capitalize on one of those powerplay opportunities, but all-in-all, I think that was our best period. We had a nice push at the end of the second, after they had us hemmed in our zone for a little while, we pushed back.”
Thoughts on Zach Parise‘s first game in an Avalanche uniform:
“I thought he had a good night. Involved right away, has a couple shots, a couple opportunities, hard working guy. Did his job on the checking side of it. I thought he was involved. For playing his first game in a long time, I thought it was a pretty good game from him.”
On being able to roll four lines with Parise’s arrival:
“Well that is (the hope), no question. Our top guys, I’m sure they’re somewhere around 22 minutes, which is my goal for those guys, especially when you’ve got to play back-to-back. There’s going to be nights where we have to lean on those guys heavily to get some points, but for me, I thought the other three lines did a nice job tonight with both their checking details and helping us out a little bit on the offensive side of it. Goals were tough to come by.”
On if the Avalanche will start Justus Annunen Tuesday:
“Yeah, maybe.”
*said with a bit of a grin*
On if the recall of Sam Malinski means more of a rotation on defense:
“Possible.”
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