CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The Colorado Avalanche’s star players Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews have a legitimate reason for skipping Friday’s practice: they were celebrating their recent victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship. The Canadian team managed to secure a nail-biting 3-2 win against the United States in an overtime showdown on Thursday, marking a proud moment for the trio. However, there’s little time for them to rest as they head straight to Nashville for a game against the Predators on Saturday as they seek another trophy in the NHL season.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar acknowledges the challenge his top players face this weekend due to the back-to-back game schedule, with Nashville on Saturday and St. Louis on Sunday. “They’re definitely playing; there’s no choice in the matter,” Bednar commented. He expressed concern about their energy levels, stating, “I don’t love the schedule having a tournament final on Thursday followed by Saturday and Sunday games, but that’s just how it goes.” Despite any worries, he remains confident in the abilities of his elite players, noting, “I tend to fret about them a bit less because they excel at their craft.”
While in Nashville, Bednar intends to chat with MacKinnon, Makar, and Toews to gather insights on their experiences from the tournament. MacKinnon, who stood out by being named MVP with four goals over four games, will undoubtedly offer valuable perspectives. “We want to pick their brains a little,” Bednar revealed. “Learning about their experiences, what they liked and disliked, and the challenges they faced will help us moving forward.” This collaboration could enhance the team’s performance as they navigate through their demanding schedule.
The Avalanche may soon gain a significant boost to their offense with Valeri Nichushkin returning gradually to practice after dealing with a lower-body injury. Although Nichushkin and defenseman Josh Manson will not accompany the team on their current two-game road trip, there’s hope Nichushkin could be ready to play by Wednesday’s home match against New Jersey. It’s worth noting that Nichushkin has been sidelined since December 31 and has yet to play since his suspension in May, which kept him out for a significant time.
Bednar remarked on the positive signs regarding Nichushkin’s progress, stating, “It’s definitely encouraging. We are working on ramping him up for a return.” Before his injury, the 29-year-old forward had made an impact during the season, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in just 21 games since his return on November 15 after his suspension.
Currently, the Avalanche find themselves in wild-card placement within the Western Conference after a mixed bag of results, with a record of 5-4-1 over their last ten outings. Despite being 13 points off the leaders in the Central Division, there are still 25 games left to change their fortunes this season.
