In a chippy and physical series in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar made sure to emphasize Wednesday afternoon that Colorado isn’t the only team doling out blows.
With star defenseman Cale Makar suspended for Wednesday’s Game 5 at Ball Arena for a hit on Jared McCann at Climate Pledge Arena on Monday night, Bednar pointed out his distaste for one of the Kraken’s hits earlier in the series.
In Game 2, Seattle defenseman Will Borgen cross-checked Avs center Darren Helm to the side of the head as Helm was falling to the ice, Bednar said. And directly prior to Borgen’s full cross-check on Helm, he also half-cross-checked winger Logan O’Connor to the back of the neck.
Bendar noticed, even if the officials didn’t. Helm’s status has been day-to-day since that game, and he didn’t participate in Wednesday’s morning skate.
Bednar brought up Borgen’s hit in a radio interview Tuesday … then called it “ancient history” on Wednesday when asked about it following the morning skate at Ball Arena … then proceeded to offer his thoughts again.
“Yup, I didn’t like that one,” Bednar said.
Makar, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, will sit for Game 5 for his hit that will also keep McCann from playing on Wednesday with the series tied at 2-2. Bednar initially said he hoped Makar wouldn’t face any league discipline for the play, which was initially ruled a five-minute major for interference, before officials reduced the penalty to a two-minute minor.
“They made their ruling, and we move on without him (in Game 5),” Bednar said.
Forward Mikko Rantanen said the Avs’ experience dealing with a long list of injuries during the regular season — including being without captain Gabriel Landeskog all season — prepared them for moments like Makar’s suspension for Wednesday’s series-swinging game.
“This year, with all the injuries we’ve had, we’re used to the next-man-up mentality,” Rantanen said. “He’s the best (defender) in the world, and a Top 3 player in the world, but… we can’t talk about that too much. We’ve had (adversity) all year. We’ve been missing guys, and we haven’t had one game with a fully healthy lineup, so we’re used to it. I think (that adversity) helps us mentally now.”
In a charged series where Seattle has mostly dominated the opening period, outscoring Colorado 6-3, the Avs know winning two of the three games remaining in order to advance to the second round will take more discipline than they’ve displayed so far. For example: Josh Manson’s tripping penalty to set the Kraken up for Jordan Eberle’s game-winning power play goal in overtime in Game 4 after Colorado clawed back from a 2-0 deficit.
“We can’t be taking stupid penalties or putting our team down in a short-handed situation,” Byram said. “We’ve got to control our emotions, but it’s also important to be involved (at the puck), and be physical. They’ve been doing it all series so we’ve got to respond, too.”
Nichushkin update. Bednar didn’t have an update on when winger Valeri Nichushkin will return to the team. Nichushkin played the first two games of the series against Seattle before leaving the team for “personal reasons.” Nichushkin remains out indefinitely. Bednar said the absence is not related to a legal matter, and that the Avs have been in contact with Nichushkin while he’s been away from the team.
