At age 37, Jarome Iginla is producing like a younger version of the future Hall of Famer. He scored his 28th and 29th goals — the latter in the final minute of the third period to break a 2-2 tie — to power the Avalanche to a 3-2 victory in its season finale against the Chicago Blackhawks. Terry Frei’s game story is . (The second version with quotes and more will ultimately post on same link.)
Iginla failed to reach 30 goals in a non-lockout season for the first time since 1999-2000 (when he had 29), but hey, the guy still has it. He is the oldest Avs player to lead the team in goals — just nine days older than Joe Sakic in 2006-07 (Sakic had 36 goals at age 37). Iginla (30 assists) and Gabe Landeskog (23 goals, 36 assists) tied with a team-high 59 points.
Matt Duchene had a good look at the empty net from the left wing in the waning moments, but tried to feed Iginla down the middle. Duchene’s pass was intercepted. After the game, Duchene said he wanted to help get Iggy a hat trick and reach 30 goals.
“I was looking for him,” Duchene said. “As soon as he got the one there in the first, we thought we could get it done. Mitchy (John Mitchell) and I were looking for him all night. It’s too bad we couldn’t get him (30). The guy (Chicago defender) got my pass off the shaft of his stick.”
Jarome Iginla, Part 2:
NEWS: If asked, ‘ Matt Duchene, Ryan O’Reilly, Nathan MacKinnon & Tyson Barrie will play for Canada at Worlds. NONE ARE YET ROSTERED
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers)
In his final press conference of the season, Avs coach Patrick Roy said the future of the team is to build through the draft. But he wouldn’t discount adding a top-four D when free agency begins July 1. More on that in Monday’s paper and online.
Roy on regrets and being back in Denver “to win the Stanley Cup:”
Alternate captain Cody McLeod and Matt Duchene:
Avs captain Gabe Landeskog told me he might represent Sweden at the World Championship in the Czech Republic, after his exit meeting and physical with Colorado. The tournament begins May 1:
Loose pucks: The Avs were the only NHL team with 50-point scorers this season. That’s a stat to take into their free-agent D search. … The Avs were 17-9-1 in their last 27 games and finished on a three-game winning streak. Problem with that is, they never won four in a row …. Goalie Semyon Varlamov was 3-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .973 SP — .973! — in three starts against the Blackhawks this season, and he has won seven straight games against Chicago dating to 2013-14. Colorado was 6-1 in its last seven home games and 16-7 overall to close the season at The Can. … The Avs reached 90 points in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007-08. … Cody McLeod had a team-high 191 penalty minutes, his new career high, and most since Jeff Odgers had 259 in 1998-99 for the Avs. … Tyson Barrie finished with 53 points, most by a Avs defensemen since Rob Blake had 56 in 2001-02. … Defenseman Duncan Siemens made his NHL debut against Chicago, the sixth Colorado player to make his big-league debut. The others are goalie Calvin Pickard and forwards Dennis Everberg, Andrew Agozzino, Colin Smith, Borna Rendulic and Joey Hishon (regular season). … Despite all the injuries, five Avs played in all 82 games this season: Duchene, Iginla, Landeskog, McLeod and Ryan O’Reilly. Last time Colorado had five players play in 82 was 2006-07. … O’Reilly had three takeaways against Chicago to tie Ottawa’s Mark Stone for the NHL lead of 98. O’Reilly has led the league in takeways three times.
All for now, folks. Please follow the blog throughout the offseason — particularly the June draft, July free agency and heading into prospects/training camp. — MC
