At first glance, it looks as though Brett Clark wears galoshes over his skates. In a sense, that’s what you could call the black rubber slipcovers he wears during each game for the Avalanche.
Clark wears them for protection — not from moisture, but from hard slap shots. He has blocked 142 shots this season after blocking five in Saturday’s 6-2 victory over Vancouver. Only Montreal’s Michael Komisarek has more in the NHL.
Since the league instituted rules that cracked down on obstruction, a bigger premium has been placed on blocking shots. Teams now collapse their defenses around the goalie more often because players can no longer use clutch-and- grab tactics. Trying to get a slap shot through from the point is a virtual thread-the- needle trick. And Clark blocks shots with seemingly more fearlessness than others, perhaps because of the protective footwear.
“I know they’ve saved me over the last few games,” Clark said. “They’re a big help. The feet take a beating out there, but you’ve just got to play through it. But they take the brunt of the force, so it helps you a lot to get to the next game.”
Clark also has been busy putting some slap shots on opposing goalies — and getting them through. He scored on a point shot Saturday against Roberto Luongo to put the game out of reach, and he had two slappers that were redirected for goals in Wednesday’s win at San Jose.
After a slow start offensively, Clark is playing the kind of hockey the Avs had in mind when they gave him a two- year, $7 million contract extension in the summer.
“I think he’s gotten more patience, and really recognizing up-ice plays, or alleviating the pressure on the forecheck,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said.
Clark led the NHL in shifts- per-game average entering Saturday at 31.5. His transformation from minor-league journeyman just a few years ago to NHL workhorse may seem like old news, but Clark appreciates every day in the league.
“The tough times, they make the good ones that much more special,” Clark said. “Right now, we’re winning games and guys are playing well. We’re getting great goaltending, and guys are playing together as a team. There’s a lot of guys who sacrifice their bodies with whatever it takes, whether it’s blocking shots or digging hard in the corners and at the net.”
Stastny update.
Quenneville said the Avs will evaluate center Paul Stastny (appendectomy) again today, but that he should practice with the team. The Avs hope he can return Tuesday against Anaheim.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
