Colorado Avalanche defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, front, is congratulated as he passes the bench after scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period on Nov. 16, 2016 in Denver.
Defenseman Patrick Wiercioch had a goal and an assist in his return to the Avalanche lineup Tuesday night against Los Angeles after he was a healthy scratch the previous two games.
“Two points is huge,” he said. “That’s what we needed as a team. I was fortunate enough to contribute and the puck seemed to be going our way a little bit more.”
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wiercioch “was awesome. I know he sat the last couple of games and he wasn’t happy with it when his play started to dip. For me, he was rock-solid right from the get-go. He brings a little bit of everything. I don’t think he’s really exceptional at one thing, but he’s really good at a lot of things. He’s a steadying force back there and he moved the puck really well.”
Pairings. In his return, Wiercioch was paired with Tyson Barrie. “I thought the whole game it was pretty favorable for ‘Bear’ and I to move the puck up quick and keep them in their own zone,” Wiercioch said.
The shuffling also had Erik Johnson with Fedor Tyutin and Francois Beauchemin with Nikita Zadorov.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) blocks a shot by Kyle Clifford (13) of the Los Angeles Kings as Tyson Barrie (4) of the Colorado Avalanche crashes the net during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Nov. 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche changes direction before passing the puck as he is pressured by Tom Gilbert (14) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Fedor Tyutin (51) of the Colorado Avalanche forces Trevor Lewis (22) of the Los Angeles Kings off the puck during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche and Alec Martinez (27) of the Los Angeles Kings battle for a loose puck in front of the Avalanche bench during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Jeff Carter (77) of the Los Angeles Kings goes crashing into the boards after taking down Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Cody McLeod (55) of the Colorado Avalanche and Nick Shore (21) of the Los Angeles Kings battle for a loose puck along the boards during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Andreas Martinsen (27) of the Colorado Avalanche checks Alec Martinez (27) of the Los Angeles Kings into the boards during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Mikko Rantanen (96) of the Colorado Avalanche chips the puck into the zone as he is pressured by Kevin Gravel (53) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Blake Comeau (14) of the Colorado Avalanche has his pass attempt broken up by Devin Setoguchi (10) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Mikko Rantanen (96) of the Colorado Avalanche is pressured by Nick Shore (21) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Tyson Barrie (4) of the Colorado Avalanche fakes out Trevor Lewis (22) of the Los Angeles Kings as he carries the puck into the zone during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Derek Forbort (24) of the Los Angeles Kings poke checks Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche as he takes a shot during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) makes a pad save as Carl Soderberg (34) of the Colorado Avalanche crashes the net during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
The Colorado Avalanche huddle on the ice before a 5 on 3 power play against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Drew Doughty (8) of the Los Angeles Kings attempts to clear the puck as Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche pokes at the loose puck after a face off during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Rene Bourque (17) of the Colorado Avalanche attempts to clear the puck from behind the net to an open teammate as he is pressured by Derek Forbort (24) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche carries the puck into the zone as he is pressured by Drew Doughty (8) of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche is checked into the boards by a Los Angeles Kings player during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche watches the puck before a face off against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Nov. 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) makes a stop on a shot by Jarome Iginla (12) of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Jake Muzzin (6) of the Los Angeles Kings upends John Mitchell (7) of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Blake Comeau (14) of the Colorado Avalanche watches his pass go air borne against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Jarome Iginla (12) of the Colorado Avalanche chases Derek Forbort (24) of the Los Angeles Kings behind the net as they battle for a loose puck during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Erik Johnson (6) of the Colorado Avalanche chips the puck past Nic Dowd (26) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on Nov. 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Rene Bourque (17) of the Colorado Avalanche chips the puck off the boards past Derek Forbort (24) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Linesman Brian Mach (78) helps Cody McLeod (55) of the Colorado Avalanche out of the net after McLeod got into a skirmish with Kevin Gravel (53) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Cody McLeod (55) of the Colorado Avalanche yells pleasantries as he is escorted off the ice by Linesman Brian Mach (78) after he got into a skirmish with Kevin Gravel (53) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Mikko Rantanen (96) of the Colorado Avalanche attempts to break up a pass by Drew Doughty (8) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Rene Bourque (17) of the Colorado Avalanche rips a shot between the legs of Derek Forbort (24) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Alec Martinez (27) of the Los Angeles Kings attempts to knock the puck loose from Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche as he skates towards an empty goal during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Nov. 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Drew Doughty (8) of the Los Angeles Kings skates off the ice after the Colorado Avalanche scored an empty net goal during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
The Colorado Avalanche celebrate Blake Comeau's goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
Blake Comeau (14) of the Colorado Avalanche is named the first star of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on November 15, 2016.
Seth McConnell, The Denver Post
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Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) blocks a shot by Kyle Clifford (13) of the Los Angeles Kings as Tyson Barrie (4) of the Colorado Avalanche crashes the net during the second period at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Nov. 15, 2016.
Iginla on third line. With Matt Duchene out (concussion symptoms) and Bednar searching for a way — any way — to shake his team out of its offensive doldrums, a noticeable tweak is having certain future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla skating on the third line with Blake Comeau and John Mitchell.
“Jarome’s been working hard,” Bednar said after the morning skate, then added, “Some games he’s getting some good chances, other games not, a little like the rest of our team. We’re a little bit up and down. We’re just trying to find some combinations that will give us a little bit of life. … I think he can help that line produce. We have Comeau coming in, who’s fresh. Mitchell’s been playing better.
“We need some production throughout our lineup. It can’t just be our top guys. … We’ve had combinations together and we’ve tried to leave them together for four or five games, six games. We see some things we like and then we don’t, so we split them up again. We have to find something that works. We can’t just leave it the way it is. (Iginla) is going to be relied on still on the power play and on that line to help us produce.”
