The loss of Peter Mueller from another head injury has caused havoc with the Avalanche’s second line, with seemingly few good solutions in sight.
Third-year center Matt Duchene is playing with two players he had never played with before, and the results continue to be lacking. His line, with Joakim Lindstrom and Chuck Koba- sew, went a second consecutive scoreless game together at even strength in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
While Duchene managed a third- period power-play assist, the lack of production from him and his new linemates is starting to take a toll on the team. Mueller’s latest absence — the team says it has no timetable on a possible return — has left coach Joe Sacco scrambling to find answers.
“The only way that Duchene and his linemates are going to get through this is hard work,” Sacco said. “We know Matty is capable of giving us more, and I’m confident he will.”
Footnotes.
The Avalanche entered Friday’s game second in the NHL in faceoff-winning percentage (53.7). Ryan O’Reilly led the team at 60.1. . . . Duchene had 15 points in 12 career games against Edmonton. . . . Avs rookie Gabriel Landeskog took a blindside hit to the head from Edmonton’s Andy Sutton in the third period. Sutton was penalized for elbowing and likely will face additional supplemental discipline from the NHL via Rule 48. . . . TJ Galiardi and Matt Hunwick were the healthy scratches for Colorado. Hunwick has yet to play a game this season.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
