Gameday Thoughts Ahead of Washington

Thoughts and musings ahead of tonight's game in DC

The Avs continue their east coast road swing tonight in Washington, D.C. to take on the Capitals just six days after losing to them in Denver.

• This scheduling of this is good for the team for two different reasons:

  • There was a two-day break between the end of the homestand and the Philadelphia game. That gave the team a bit of extra rest following the loss at home to Washington to regroup and refocus with all the new players in the lineup. There was another two-day break after the Flyers game, giving the Avs even more time to rest and recharge.

  • The second reason a road trip right now is perfect timing for Colorado is with an infusion of all these players back into the lineup, the travel gives them ample time to bond. There is nothing that can bring a team together like a roadtrip. Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood have been around the team since the start of training camp, but were merely missing from the lineup sheet due to injury. Val Nichushkin’s absence from all team-related activities to start the season was as problematic as the cause of the absence. Having an opportunity to travel, eat all meals together and spend time with each other away from the rink can do great things to a team trying to find its identity at the quarter mark.

• Hot take of the day: Cale Makar… good at hockey. Makar scored two goals that counted and had another called back against Philadelphia. All three goals came in the second period as the best defenseman in the world continues to add numbers to his already impressive point total this season.