Colorado has notched nine points in six games, a remarkable number considering the Avs have gotten only two points from top-line center Paul Stastny. Stastny thinks that’s a good thing.
“We’re deep,” Stastny said. “We’ve got four lines rolling right now, and I don’t think the coach is afraid to put any of them out there.”
Of course, Stastny wants to increase his scoring production, something coach Joe Sacco would also like to see. For now, though, Sacco isn’t worried.
“Paul’s working 200 feet of the ice. I’d like to see him shoot a little bit more, but it’s certainly not from a lack of effort,” Sacco said. “Things just aren’t clicking for him right now, but they will. He’ll be fine. Good players like that, that work that hard and compete like that, find a way. When we get Paul going to the level that he can go at, it’s certainly going to be a big plus for our team.”
While the Avs have been winning, opponents have done a good job on Stastny’s line, which gets top defensive attention.
“Some things aren’t bouncing for guys, but we’re working hard, getting chances,” Stastny said. “They’re collapsing on us at (times), but we’ve just got to keep battling. Sometimes it’s not going to go in for you, but other guys have really stepped up for us.”
O’Reilly moves up.
Ryan O’Reilly, who is the other 18-year-old along with Matt Du- chene, is earning more ice time as the third-line center. O’Reilly mostly played on the fourth line in the first few games. He tallied two assists in the third period of Saturday’s shootout victory in Detroit.
Like Duchene, if O’Reilly plays two more games this season, the first year of his contract will permanently kick in. Unlike Du- chene’s junior team, O’Reilly’s Erie Otters have not made any announcements regarding his status.
O’Reilly is doing his best to put the 10-game situation out of his mind.
“You never know what’s going to happen. Nothing’s guaranteed, especially as a young guy,” O’Reilly said. “I’m not thinking too hard about it. I’m just trying to focus on the next game.”
