Andrew Brunette began the season on the Avalanche’s first line. A few games later, he was on the fourth line, struggling for ice time.
Lately, things have stabilized for the veteran winger. He has settled in as a productive member of Colorado’s third line, which is where most had him pegged all along.
“I didn’t have a good start,” Brunette said. “Maybe a little sluggish, I guess. I was trying to fit in, trying to find a role. It was one of those things. It happens, but it’s a long season.”
Brunette, 32, has quietly built up to nearly a point-a-game pace for the season. He has three goals and 11 points in 13 games and is plus-4. He scored a goal in Colorado’s 3-2 shootout loss to Dallas on Saturday, putting home a rebound past goalie Marty Turco in heavy traffic in front of the net.
Brunette has shown a willingness to “pay a price” in front of the net. That is the kind of game that can perhaps best utilize his skills, as he is not a particularly fast skater who scores a lot of pretty goals off the rush.
“I feel more comfortable each game,” he said. “I think when you have a year off like we did, it’s going to take a little time to get back in the flow.”
Brunette lately has played on a line with Ian Laperriere and Antti Laaksonen, after starting the season at right wing with Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay.
Laperriere, Laaksonen and Brunette have been Colorado’s most consistent forwards of late.
“Those guys, along with (Steve Konowalchuk), have probably been our unsung heroes, game-in and game-out,” Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said.
“Those guys have given us more than we ever expected. They’ve been predictable and consistent and are working like crazy.”
Budaj not complaining
If Peter Budaj could get some of the offensive support the Avalanche has provided for No. 1 goalie David Aebischer, his record would be more impressive than 1-1-2.
In Budaj’s four starts, he has allowed 11 goals in regulation (2.75 GAA) and has the highest save percentage on the team (.904).
But Colorado has not scored more than four goals in any of his starts, while Aebischer has twice gotten seven goals to work with and five or more two other times.
“It doesn’t matter. The guys are playing really hard in front of me,” Budaj said.
“We’ve run into a hot goalie a couple of my starts, and that’s the way it goes. I have to try to be better than my opponent.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
