TRYING TO GET ON THE RIGHT ROAD
The Avalanche completed a quick onegame road trip Friday night with its fourth and final meeting of the season with the Winnipeg Jets. The Avs entered the game 2-1-0 against their division foes this season, with both wins coming at home in overtime. Currently on a franchise-best 10game winning streak at the Pepsi Center — the longest home winning streak in the NHL this season — the Avs returned to Winnipeg to once again face one of the best home teams in the NHL (21-5-2) less than two weeks after a 3-0 loss Feb. 3.
At 11-14-3 away from the Pepsi Center entering Friday, how do the Avs translate their home success to the road?
“I wish we had the exact answer,” defenseman Erik Johnson said. “We’re feeling it at home right now, and for whatever reason we’re just not as good on the road. I think special teams is a key. I think we have the worst road penalty kill and the worst road power play (in the league), and then on the flip side I think we have the best home power play and best home penalty kill.”
Johnson isn’t far off, with his team sporting the NHL’s No. 1ranked penalty kill and No. 4 power play at home this season, while they rank 23rd and 31st (last), respectively, on the road.
“Our road play has been a focus for quite some time, and I think there’s a lot of things that goes into it,” said Avs coach Jared Bednar. “Our special teams haven’t been as good on the road as they have been at home. Our five-on-five play isn’t quite as good. I think we try to play the same way at home as on the road — there’s obviously a little bit of hills to climb.”
Injury report. Blake Comeau returned Friday — the forward’s first game since Feb. 8 in St. Louis — starting on the Avs’ second line alongside Carl Soderberg and Matt Nieto. Nathan MacKinnon missed his eighth consecutive game because of an upperbody injury, but the return of Colorado’s leading scorer appears to be imminent.
“He looks good. … He’ll get another full practice in (Sunday). We knew he wasn’t going to play (in Winnipeg), so we didn’t bring him on the road,” Bednar said. “He’s going to do some treatment and skate there with a guy in Denver, so no use traveling him and wearing him out. He should be rested and fresh and hopefully be in the lineup for us on Sunday. It’s not a guarantee just yet, but we’ll talk to him after Saturday’s practice.”
Goalie rotation. Despite Semyon Varlamov coming off a 44save shutout Wednesday night at home against Montreal, it was Jonathan Bernier between the pipes against the Jets. Jan. 2 in Denver, Bernier made 21 saves in relief after a second-period injury suffered by Varlamov. He allowed zero goals while getting the win against the Jets. Feb. 3 in Winnipeg, Varlamov made 29 saves on 31 shots in a 3-0 loss.