TOP LINE EAGER TO SNAP OUT OF SLUMP
The “MGM Line” has run out of luck during this high-stakes period of the season. Center Nathan MacKinnon and wingers Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen are pointless in the Avalanche’s last three games, and that directly correlates to the team’s 1-2-0 record during that stretch — with the lone victory coming in a shootout.
“It’s almost unfair how much we rely on them offensively,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said Thursday, one day after his team failed to score more than one goal in regulation or overtime for the third consecutive game and lost to Philadelphia 2-1 at the Pepsi Center.
Suddenly, one of the NHL’s top lines on the league’s 10th-best offensive team has found itself in a rut during the most important time of the regular season. The Avs (41-28-8, 90 points) have dropped to one point out of the playoffs with only five games remaining.
“Yeah, we need them to produce,” Bednar said of MacKinnon’s line. “But I’ve studied their last couple games. They’re creating a lot of chances.”
Indeed, the MGM boys (Mikko, Gabe, MacKinnon) don’t lack opportunities to score. They combined for 10 shots Wednesday against the Flyers, six in Monday’s 4-1 loss at Vegas and 15 in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout victory over the visiting Golden Knights.
“Just a matter of time before it goes in,” Landeskog said. “I don’t even think it’s an issue at this point, to be honest with you. What has it been, three games since we haven’t scored?
“Obviously, we expect from ourselves to be better. We expect to be on the score sheet every night. (Wednesday) night, we had chances. We just didn’t score.”
Said Rantanen: “Just stick with it, play within our systems. Last three games, we have had a lot of chances. Sometimes hockey is like that. It doesn’t go in, but if you still get chances, you can’t be worried. We’re still creating chances and we know it’s going to go in. (Friday) is going to be the day, hopefully.”
The Avs complete a two-game homestand Friday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Then they embark on a crucial threegame California trip Saturday, playing at Anaheim on Sunday, Los Angeles on Monday and San Jose on Thursday. Colorado will conclude its regular season April 7 at home against St. Louis.
Entering games Thursday, the Avs were chasing the Ducks, Kings and Blues — each with 91 points — in the playoff chase that will ultimately eliminate one of those four teams.
“Three weeks ago I would I would have said, ‘Geez, we got to go in and play Anaheim, L.A., San Jose and then come back home against St. Louis,’ and I would have seen that as maybe a little bit of a negative,” Bednar said. “But now maybe it turns to a positive because we’re trying to catch those teams and get in.”
“We’re in a good spot,” Landeskog added.
There will be no moral victory this season. The Avs, who finished with an NHL-low 48 points last season, won’t be satisfied by doubling their points but not qualifying for a playoff berth.
“It’s not like ‘If we don’t get in, it’s all right,’ ” Rantanen said. “We want to get in. That’s our goal.”