[thepuck 2019-01-21] Avs 0 @ Habs 3 EN

Press are still yacking about MacKinnon's temper tantrum. Ex-Hab Mark Barberio is in the lineup for the Avs.

Below is the lineup with my rating for each player in the game. This is not a direct reflection of their skill level but how they impacted this specific game. It's rated from 1-10. It does not take into account intangibles like how they lead off the ice.

Danault(6)-Drouin(6)-Gallagher(9)
Domi(7)-Lehkonen(7)-Armia(6)
Kotkaniemi(4)-Tatar(3)-Byron(6)
Chaput(8)-Agostini(7)-Deslauriers(10)
Mete(7)-Weber(6)
Reilly(6)-Petry(7)
Kulak(7)-Benn(10)
Price(9)-Niemi(-)

Scratches: Hudon, Peca, Alzner; IRL: Shaw

Star of the First Period: Artturi Lehkonen
Star of the Second Period: Jordie Benn
Star of the Third Period: Brendan Gallagher

Weber appeared hesitant to shoot in the first couple periods but leaned into a few in the third. The first three (and really all but one) penalties were pretty chintzy. Agostino is getting time on the PowerPlay. The new KK (Kotkaniemi) line gets pinned in their zone the way the old Domi line used to. Drouin seems to be trying harder than usual. Reilly takes exception to a blindside hit in Chaput (more because of the suicide pass he sent up the ice) before Deslauriers can get involved but they both get penalties.

While shorthanded but with a faceoff in the Avs zone, Danault draws the puck back to Kulak who strafes, fires and scores!

Instead of pulling back and “setting up” when the puck exits the Avs zone, Weber tosses it to a player just exiting and they rush back in catching the Avs off-guard allowing Drouin to send a cross-ice pass to Kotkaniemi who one-times it into the net!

This was a close, hard hitting and exciting game much like the 1-0 game vs the Wild. The score is inflated by an empty net goal.

Kersus' Three Stars of the Game

*Jordie Benn
** Brett Kulak
*** Carey Price

It was cool to watch this game with archergirl and from a distance, DWfan9. Cheers!