Johnson critical of own performance, responds big in Game 4 victory
Erik Johnson messed up. He knew it. And so, as the most veteran member of the Avalanche, he didn’t mince words about his performance in a Game 3 playoff loss to the Sharks. Earmuffs, kids.
“I played like (garbage),” Johnson said.
The worst of his self-proclaimed stinky mistakes was a first-period turnover. Johnson, an 11th-year NHL defender in his ninth season with the Avs, sent a puck through the neutral zone easily picked up by Sharks forward Timo Meier; who then sped by Johnson for an unassisted goal to put San Jose up 2-0. A back-breaker.
“Didn’t play very well last game so it’s all about the response, right?” Johnson said.
Mission accomplished. Johnson delivered in Game 4, a 3-0 shutout victory Thursday night that sent the series tied 2-2 back to San Jose on Saturday, as a constant physical pest in front of the net and twice the anchor of Colorado’s penalty kill through 17:16 in ice time.
“I loved the way he bounced back (Thursday),” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “He didn’t have a great Game 3, there’s no question about it, I know he was disappointed in it and we were a lit
tle disappointed in it. But we’ve seen him play so much better. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for. You want your guys to be at the top of their game and contribute in any way possible.
“He was a factor in so many different areas. I thought he was skating physical and more engaged. That’s what we need him to be. That pair of him and (Ian) Cole, they play some important shut-down minutes.”
Don’t count Johnson’s teammates as surprised with his rebound. Johnson has endured significant career hockey adversity, such as three losing Avalanche seasons and two head coaching changes. Johnson now provides wisdom to one of NHL’s youngest rosters. And, he’s reaping the rewards of team growth now two wins shy of a berth in the Western Conference Finals.
“In the playoffs there’s going to be some guys who have off nights,” forward Colin Wilson said. “E.J. stepped up for us in a big way last game and contributed a ton.”
Johnson, 31, is more than a decade ahead of his 20-year-old defensive teammates Cale Makar and Sam Girard. He plans to match their youthful enthusiasm Saturday night in Game 5.
“We still have to be desperate,” Johnson said. “It would be so fun to come back here with a 3-2 lead, and to close it out in Game 6 here in Denver, it would be a special atmosphere. But we know how good they are in the Shark Tank. I don’t think anyone thought this would be a four or five game series — at least we didn’t. It’s going to be a grind. This is the best time of the year. It’s a lot of fun.”