The Fourth Interval: Dennis Bernstein on if the Colorado Avalanche can get again to elite standing. Is goaltending holding them again?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Ryan Paton: “DB, let’s dive proper into it. The Colorado Avalanche got here in with loads of expectations. The season has not gone the best way that they needed it so far to date. Nevertheless, (Nathan) MacKinnon is taking part in effectively. Cale Maker is taking part in effectively. Additionally when Mikko Rantanen, when he’ll present the assistance coming again for Colorado, do they now get again to that elite contender standing that all of us assume they need to be?”
Bernstein: “No, probably not (Paton). Effectively, initially, they need to be in full well being. Bear in mind, (Valeri) Nichushkin remains to be suspended. It appears like he’ll come again across the fifteenth, that’s positive. They’re lacking Miles Wooden. They’re lacking Ross Colton, had a very good begin.
However I’m going to the goaltending. Pates. They’re final within the league in targets towards. And usually you’ll say, ‘Okay, it’s not only a goalie.’ You by no means lay on when a staff is that poor defensively, it’s obtained to be construction, it’s obtained to be the dedication to taking part in protection. It’s obtained to be loads of issues that align.
Effectively, I’ll let you know, Pates, that’s most likely not the case, and right here’s why,. The Colorado Avalanche are second within the league in shot suppression. Solely the Carolina Hurricanes have given up lower than the Colorado Avalanche with respect to pictures per sport.
It’s the goaltending, and whether or not it’s John Gibson when he will get wholesome, or perhaps, you realize, Marc-Andre Fleury or somebody like that. Like they should repair the goaltending.
And so they’re an elite staff when everyone’s wholesome offensively. Like they’re not an elite staff defensively.
And I feel a few of it, I’ll take your reference it, is in a pair seasons in the past after they received the Stanley Cup, didn’t have a Vezina winner within the, in between the pipes. That they had Darcy Kuemper made the saves he wanted to make, and he was adequate to win a title, proper?
In order that’s not the case proper now. So I feel they’ve to repair that. Definitely they actually wish to play with the massive boys within the West this 12 months.”
Paton: “And it’s a distinct season, a distinct staff for certain. They obtained to repair their, their means in purpose.”
