Avalanche phenom Nathan MacKinnon has a slump to bust, with just one goal in his past 19 games. And the key to turning it around is to skate right at the problem. Or around it. Or through it.
“When I skate and move my feet, I feel like I’m playing my best hockey,” said MacKinnon, the Avs’ second-year, 19-year-old forward.
“Sometimes things click and sometimes they don’t. Obviously, right now I’m in a bit of a drought. But when I’m skating and playing simple and hard and working hard on the ice, that’s usually when things turn around for me.”
MacKinnon on Friday will move down to the Avs’ third line with John Mitchell and Max Talbot, . And Roy wants MacKinnon to attack the net from different angles, especially outside-in. But his speed from any direction is key, the coach said.
“I want to see him challenging the defensemen more,” Roy said. “I just feel he’s stopping a little too much at the top of the circle, looking for plays. He likes to pass the puck at the entry. But I’d like to see him bring the puck more to the net.”
MacKinnon last week scored a first-period goal against the visiting Blackhawks after beating Chicago goalie Corey Crawford to the blocker side.
“He loves to have the puck in the neutral zone where he can use his speed. I just want to see him shooting more,” Roy said. “If he puts pucks on the net like he did against Chicago, that’s good. We want to see more of those shots.”
MacKinnon’s six goals and 16 assists rank him fourth on the team with 22 points.
“I feel like I’m creating stuff. I’m close to breaking out,” MacKinnon said. “But it’s a tough game. It’s a tough league. Not changing is key.
“I just want to be consistent in how I’m playing. I believe in how I’m playing. It will eventually start producing. Just play simple and fast.”
Tanguay-Iginla combo working. Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla, two of the Avs’ oldest players, continue to lead the team in points. Tanguay is at the top with 12 goals and 13 assists (25 points), with Iginla right behind with nine/15 (24 points).
So Roy will keep them together, for now, on the second line with center Ryan O’Reilly.
“I guess it started in Calgary” where Tanguay and Iginla played together between 2010-12, Roy said. “We put them together for five or six games and it seems like it’s clicking very well. Jarome likes to shoot the puck. Alex likes to pass the puck. It seems to be a good fit.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
