Tyson Jost couldn’t see the net when the puck lifted off Avalanche teammate Cale Makar’s stick and flew his direction. The eyes on the back of Jostap head took over from there.
Jost, inserted into Colorado’s lineup Friday with forward Joonas Donskoi “unfit” to play against Arizona, poked his stick at the Makar slapper that was headed wide-right of Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper. Jost drew eye-contact with Makar, found the puck, and redirected it just below Keumper’s glove.
“It definitely felt good to go in,” Jost said.
His second-period goal helped lift the Avs to a dramatic Game 2 victory, 3-2, in Edmonton — the city where Jost grew up — and was another sign of Colorado’s roster depth and Jostap rising place within it.
The former first-round NHL draft pick arrived in the playoff “bubble” as the team’s No. 13 forward. Now, with the health status unknown for Donskoi and Avs forward Vladislav Namestnikov (day-to-day, unspecified injury), Jost is in position to capitalize once again Saturday for Game 3 with an opportunity to go up 3-0 in the series.
Jost told reporters on a video conference call he was told by the coaching staff after Thursday’s optional skate to “be ready.” That translated to a third-line role, alongside Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher, with 10:20 in ice time — and no second greater than his tipped goal in the second period.
“I want to be playing,” Jost said. “Itap playoff hockey and itap fun to be a part of. It felt good to contribute and it was awesome to get that win, too.”
Jostap spot in the lineup has fluctuated all season with strong speculation he would be moved before the trade deadline. Jost stuck around, and according to coach Jared Bednar, he put in the preparation required to rise up the depth chart.
“I love (Jostap) work ethic,” Bednar said. “He’s added to his toolbox and found different ways to contribute for us. We use him on the penalty kill. He comes in (today) and he’s killing penalties, he’s hard on pucks in the offensive zone, he goes to the net … and gets a deflection goal. He’s finding ways to be a contributor to help our team win.”
Jost was quick to credit teammates for his goal, the fourth of his NHL postseason career, with little time to celebrate before puck drop at 1 p.m. Saturday for Game 3.
“It was nice to get in the lineup,” Jost said. “I’m happy to contribute.”
