For four games, the Avalanche have basically alternated between looking dominant and playing just okay.
The two games they didn’t dominate were both wins. And in their two stronger performances, they collected three of four points, falling only in a shootout to Dallas.
But the one constant in all four games has been the play of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.
That duo has already been the best in the NHL, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon.
At the conclusion of Monday’s early matinée 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Necas and MacKinnon were the lone leaders of the NHL points race, recording eight each in that stretch.
It doesn’t sound like the Mikko Rantanen trade stuff is going to die down anytime soon. And it doesn’t help that Necas is still without a contract extension past this season.
But the early returns of the dynamic duo have been excellent. If there was any doubt that Necas is worth investing in, we might already have enough evidence to prove otherwise.
There’s just no stopping these guys.
10 Observations
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1. Necas and his next contract are probably going to be the main talking point until we actually get something announced. The longer it goes, the more he’s probably going to get. And this is by design.
Putting all the Rantanen stuff aside, I’d be happy to see Necas for a number at or below $11 million long term if he’s going to look this good with MacKinnon.
2. Brock Nelson got a laceration on his wrist after a skate from Bowen Byram came up and caught him between the glove and pad. It looked like it could’ve been disastrous, but he was able to come back and finish the game after getting it looked at. That’s a big, big sigh of relief for Jared Bednar.
3. Nelson is stuck at one point, which he got on opening night last week. I still believe he’ll finish with a respectable 55–70 points for a second line center. That line is a little snakebit at five-on-five right now.
But what I like most about his usage this year is the added role on the penalty kill. He’s joined forces with Valeri Nichushkin and the pair are playing heavy PK minutes together. Having a second-line center that can play on the PP and PK, and be in big roles on each one, is a nice change.
I never liked seeing other 2C options only play 12 or 13 minutes on some nights. This is far more appropriate for the role.
4. Rasmus Dahlin got called for interference for a hit on Nichushkin. When Gabe Landeskog tried to go after Buffalo’s captain after the whistle, Bowen Byram stepped in and was pushing and shoving with his former teammate.
I always love that part of hockey. When you see friends get caught in the heat of the moment and start to go at each other.
Another example: Rantanen was called for high sticking Cale Makar on Saturday and felt like there was embellishment after the contact. He was jawing at Makar and the official on his way to the penalty box. MacKinnon came in to say something to Rantanen while he was entering the sin bin.
5. Speaking of Makar, he’s already got three minor penalties in the first four games. Last season, he had seven in 80 games and the year before, he finished with eight minor penalties in 77 games.
Neither of his penalties this year have been difference makers for the opposition, but you have to imagine he’s going to get that cleaned up.
6. Five shots on goal in 13:31 for Victor Olofsson from the third line. He’s also got a dangerous one-timer on the second PP unit and flexed that against Buffalo.
There’s just so much depth on this team.
7. Scott Wedgewood through four games as the Avalanche’s starter: 3-0-1, .936 save percentage, and a 1.72 goals-against average.
8. I think Wedgewood starting 30 games this year is a very real possibility. He’s earned it.
9. This was the first of 18 afternoon games for the Avalanche this season — the most in franchise history. I love early games. And I think the NHL should schedule more of these in general.
10. Well-earned two day break for the Avs after playing every other night for a week. They don’t play any back to backs until Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. It’s a solid early-season schedule.