MONTREAL — Kyle Cumiskey’s stick was not the last to touch the puck on his second career NHL goal Thursday night against Montreal. It was deflected in by Canadiens defenseman Shawn Belle.
But Cumiskey will certainly take it, thank you, and other than that his performance in the Avalanche’s 3-2 win at the Bell Centre was no fluke.
Cumiskey’s 60th career game was one of his best, with the goal and an assist and 18 solid minutes on defense.
He finished a plus-2 and was noticeably more aggressive and sure with the puck than earlier in the season and his career.
“It was nice to get a few more minutes tonight and get some more opportunities,” Cumiskey said. “I’ve just got to keep playing defense first and keep it simple. That’s the best way to do it up here.”
Wilson debuts.
Rookie Ryan Wilson played his first career NHL game for the Avs, in place of the injured John-Michael Liles. Wilson, 22, came over from Calgary in the Jordan Leopold trade late last season.
He was one of the final cuts in training camp, as the Avs’ brass liked his physical style.
“Definitely, there are some nerves,” Wilson said before the game. “This is definitely a great (city) to get the chance. I just try to play a simple game, be physical and hopefully it’ll go well.”
Wilson finished a plus-1 in 11:34 of action, with two blocked shots.
Footnotes.
Chris Stewart and T.J. Hensick were healthy scratches for the third straight game by the Avs. . . . Avs defender Kyle Quincey wasn’t happy with the referees in this game after being called for two minor penalties and watching Montreal’s tying goal after his stick was knocked out of his hands. “(Referees) had a tough time tonight,” Quincey said. “(They) started calling weak penalties and then had to keep calling weak penalties to offset them.”
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
