Doing Their Jobs: O'Connor and Kelly

The bottom-six duo are making underrated contributions.

Courtesy of x.com/avalanche

My instant analysis in the immediate wake of Game 4 was all about the emotion of the moment. Gabe Landeskog had scored, and I was all up in my feelings. Mackenzie Blackwood had posted a shutout, and I was ready to fight for our guy when it was reported that the Stars had stolen the final game puck.

And I stand by both of those reactions because they will be what Saturday’s game is remembered for. Hell, I’m already comfortable putting Landeskog’s goal in the upper pantheon of all-time Avalanche moments.

This piece, though, is for the here and now. A sharper look at the players who made last night, and this 2-2 series, possible, even if they might not have the historical callbacks coming their way in the years ahead.

The player who fits that narrative perfectly is Logan O’Connor.