Wood embraces fresh start in playoffs
The New Jersey Devils returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs a year ago after a five-year absence, but Miles Wood’s personal experience was not the best.
He was a healthy scratch for four of the seven games in the first round against the New York Rangers, in part because of a couple of penalties he took that contributed to the Devils starting in an 0-2 hole. His first postseason game with the Colorado Avalanche went a little better.
Wood scored a goal, nearly had another were it not for what his coach called a “quick whistle,” and played the second-most ice time of his career in a 60-minute playoff game when Colorado dropped a wild 7-6 decision to the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of their opening-round series.
“I thought he was great,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Yep, physical, involved, hard at the net. I thought that line was really effective. They were involved right from the drop of the puck. Their details were good. They checked hard. The physicality is part of their game.
“Those guys, they’ve got a little grit and sandpaper. I thought they played their game to the best of their abilities the other night. I’d love to see them repeat that performance.”
Wood has played with his new best friend, Ross Colton, for much of the season. They joined the franchise this offseason and have been “inseparable,” according to Bednar. Colton is a New Jersey native who grew up a Devils fan, so that’s where the connection began.
They’ve been carpool mates and linemates. The Avalanche wanted more depth forwards who can play with a physical edge. Those two guys bring a lot of chaotic energy.
“Ross has more playoff experience than me,” Wood said. “He’s thrived in this situation. He knows what it takes to win.
“I thought we played well. (Joel Kiviranta) hasn’t played in a while and I thought he stepped in and did a great job out there.”
Wood’s overall numbers were essentially the same this regular season with the Avs as his last year with New Jersey, in part because he finished the final 25 games in a slump with no goals and five assists. Wood was an impactful player in Game 1, though.
Colorado signed him to a surprising six-year contract in July, but Bednar has consistently praised Wood for his defensive responsibility, energy and physicality.
After barely playing on the penalty kill during his more than 400 games with New Jersey, Wood has become a fixture on the unit in Colorado. He played 11:44 on the PK in seven years, but was eighth on the Avs this season in PK TOI and sixth in Game 1 against the Jets.
It was a physical Game 1, with the two clubs combining for 101 hits. Wood and Colton were in the middle of plenty of altercations, both before and after the whistles. They combined for six shots on goal and seven hits.
The Avs had a 27-10 advantage in shot attempts when Wood was on the ice at even strength. They also created 76.28% of the expected goals when Wood was out there, which was tops on the team among guys who reached double digits in minutes.
“I feel like the hit count is always more in the playoffs. It fits with how we want to play,” Wood said. “It can help other lines like (Nathan Mackinnon’s) line to go out there and play with a little more space. We’ve just gotta stay on it.
“My first playoffs, you’re on edge a little bit more. Now I feel like I know what to expect. The Jets fans were great and we kind of fed off of them. It was a great start for us, but it’s time to win some games here.”
FOOTNOTES » Backup goaltender Justus Annunen was “still sick,” according to Bednar. He missed Game 1 and the team’s optional Monday practice because of an illness. The Avs recalled Ivan Prosvetov, and he backed up Alexandar Georgiev for Game 2. Sam Girard skated Tuesday morning. Bednar’s “We’ll see” response on his availability, plus Girard remaining out with the other healthy scratches, suggested he would miss a fourth straight game because of a concussion.