Preseason games are games that you always have to take with a grain of salt. On one hand, it is a chance for some veterans to get their “legs” back, and prospects can make a name for themselves. One thing to always remember is that these games do not count towards anything but a warmup to the season. The Colorado Avalanche were looking for revenge after losing in the last second on Monday night. Here are my standout players as the Avalanche fall short 4–2 to the Dallas Stars.
Keaton Middleton
Keaton Middleton is in the last year of his two-year extension and appears that he does not want another one. The lumbering defenseman has been slow to get to the corner on almost every play. Middleton’s reach has been the big thing that has worked for him, but his skating has improved little since last season. With the defensive core being so deep this season, I unfortunately do not see Middleton getting a call-up based on his performance over the first two games.
Sam Malinski
Sam Malinski solidified his spot on the Avalanche roster even more tonight with a play in the game. Malinski was diving in front of pucks to block shots and setting up passes down the ice for the offense. During the power play, Malinski showed he could run the unit and have it succeed by working the puck around the zone. He definitely made it a harder decision for the coaching staff after tonight to send him to Loveland.
what a block by Sam Malinski on the penalty kill #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ptwnRHZ7Lc
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) September 28, 2024
Kovalenko with some hussle and gains his second assist of the night as Parker Kelly powers a shot past the goalie #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/efkbTKUutS
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 28, 2024
Nikolai Kovalenko
Nikolai Kovalenko had two assists tonight, one of them while on the power play. We saw the style of play that we were expecting at the end of last season from Kovalenko. He was crashing the net and creating chaos down low to help set up the power play goal for Ivan Ivan. His rushes to the net reminded me a lot of a smaller Gabriel Landeskog. We even saw sparks of his speed throughout the game. Kovalenko was not playing his natural center position, but he adjusted well on the wing, making a case for the opening night roster.
Ivan Ivan gets a beautiful setup on the PP from Kovalenko after some great movement from the entire unit #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/6xOrftFKr4
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 28, 2024
Conclusion
It is the preseason and a couple of losses are nothing to get upset over, especially in the first two games. Considering that the Avalanche fielded an AHL roster tonight and still put up a fight was impressive. It gives us hope for what the Colorado Eagles may have brewing in Loveland, putting together a solid roster themselves. Malinski and Kovalenko showed us what the young talent on this team can do, and what we should be excited about. The Avalanche will be back at it on Sunday night in Denver against the new Utah Hockey Club at 5 P.M.