Colorado Avalanche fans breathe a sigh of relief as Cale Makar’s injury appears minor, but does his absence open new opportunities for young guns like Sam Malinski? Chris Micieli and Zach Pearson break down the strategic advantages of resting stars before the playoffs, highlight Dallas Stars’ slip in the standings, and ponder if the Avalanche’s goalie tandem—Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood—could rewrite the typical Stanley Cup Playoff playbook.
Key discussions focus on lineup experimentation, Malinski’s rise in Makar’s absence, and the rejuvenated Avalanche power play featuring Nazem Kadri. The hosts debate whether recent special teams improvements are truly sustainable and spotlight Logan O’Connor’s vital impact on the penalty kill. With the magic number dropping and a showdown against Dallas looming, the Avalanche’s postseason outlook grows even more intriguing. Will Jared Bednar’s rotation keep Colorado primed for a Cup run?
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6 Comments
What's the official injury? Separated shoulder?
Think this keeps him from winning the Norris?
I’ve liked Sam Malinski for the past few seasons, but this season is by far his breakout season. And while I love Parker Kelly, Malinski has become my top favorite. Especially after the Flames game. I agree that I don’t think he gets enough credit, but I’m with Zach on the cost aspect, I like that he’s our best kept secret 😂🤫
Whatever it’s , Let’s not use the term load management “…. It will be interesting to see if other players will start missing games as well.
Inherently, any goalie is going to have strengths & weakness that differ from any other goalie … Has anyone talked about the effect on the opponents when Bednar alternates goalies to keep them guessing on the aforementioned strengths & weaknesses?
The only person we cant bench is burns