Avalanche Sunday Notebook: Drouin Is Back

Plus, Makar's HNIC interview last night

I’m glad to say I never gave up on Jonathan Drouin, but I will admit to being pretty worried about his status with the Colorado Avalanche hockey club not too long ago.

The “former star whose light keeps fading despite solid chances to rebuild his career” storyline was starting to take hold. He had one point in his first 10 games and was dropped down the lines, and was a healthy scratch for one game.

In his last eight games, however, the former No. 3 overall pick has three goals and two assists, giving him six points in 18 games overall. He scored a really skillful goal last night in the Avs’ solid 3-1 win over Calgary, and looks like he’s starting to feel comfortable in an Avs sweater.

All good news.

Can he keep it up? We’ll see, but I feel better about his chances now.

About last night…

• I liked Jared Bednar’s description of his team’s game last night and in general of late. “Mature” was the word he used. I agree. Nothing too fancy, nothing too dramatic, just good, solid, meat-and-potatoes hockey. Get the puck in, get a good forecheck, control play territorially and take advantage of enough of your chances to win. That’s how the Avs played last night, despite being outshot 30-24.

• Ivan Prosvetov looked just fine in net. He looks so big in goal.

• Cale Makar went out of the game in the first period and everybody held their breath. But it was just a bruise from taking a puck near the elbow and he was fine after some treatment.

• Here is a cool interview No. 8 did with the Hockey Night in Canada After Hours crew last night: