Alarm for Avs after two 6-2 losses in a week
Colorado has team meeting ahead of Wednesday's game at San Jose
Absorbing 6-2 losses twice in six days has set of f an alarm with the Avalanche, which had a lengthy team meeting ahead of Wednesday’s twogame series finale at San Jose.
Ever y hockey team has pregame meetings. But this one sounded like it was profound.
“As far as the conversations go, I don’t want to say tough conversations but they were to the point, and honest and fair,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after the morning skate at SAP Center.
The Sharks on Monday overcame a 2-0 deficit and scored six unanswered goals against the Avs, who also lost 6-2 last Wednesday at home to Minnesota. Colorado is 2-1 on its fourgame trip but 2-3 in its last five games overall. The Avs (11-7-1) are fourth in the eight-team West Division entering their 20th game in the condensed 56-game schedule.
“It’s tough at times with the expectations that we have for our team,” Avs defenseman Devon Toews said. “Consistency is something that we really have to focus on a lot … make sure we finish games and play through games and that adversity that comes in a game.”
In the Avs’ last four games, three have finished in 6-2 scores, including Saturday’s win at Arizona.
“We’ve shown stints where we can be a really good hockey team this year,” for ward Brandon Saad. “And there’s other nights where we kind of take the night of f and you see the outcome that happened last game. We got a young team so I think the biggest thing was to touching upon consistency knowing how good we can be when we show up to play.”
The Avs begin a ninegame homestand Friday against Anaheim.
“I think we’re feeling good,” Bednar said. “I sense that we’re a hungr y group this morning. We executed well on the ice. We’re skating well. I like the energy and the juice on the ice this morning.”
Fatherhood
Saad is anxious to return to Colorado. He witnessed the bir th of his second child last Wednesday before departing for Arizona with the team the next day. Saad said the newborn and his wife Alyssa are doing well.
“Ever yone is healthy. That’s the biggest thing,” Saad said. “It’s an exciting time for me. My first one was a summer baby so I was able to be home for a little bit. But this (baby), you’re leaving in 24 hours, on the road for a week. That’s kind of the nature of the game.”