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Jost line shows potential; Bednar says Girard could be 'superstar' |
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Rick Sadowski
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They combined for three shots on goal and one assist in the Avalanche’s season-opening 4-1 win against Minnesota on Thursday, not especially impressive statistics.
But the Alexander Kerfoot-Tyson Jost-Colin Wilson line still had a productive game.
“I felt comfortable putting them out against any one of the four lines for Minny,” coach Jared Bednar said after practice Friday. “I thought they did a good job defensively, didn’t give up much for scoring chances and they spent some good time in the offensive zone, drew a penalty.
“There was a lot to like. I thought that Jost and Kerf were skating well. I thought all three of those guys had a good first game.”
Wilson, who is coming off an injury-plagued first season in Colorado, appeared to have given the Avalanche a 3-1 lead at 1:36 of the third period when he bunted the puck past goalie Devan Dubnyk. But it was determined in a video review that he knocked it in with his glove even though he had his hand on his stick.
“He looked quick to pucks,” Bednar said of Wilson. “He was getting into scoring areas, using his size and strength, had a couple really good chances to score, another was nullified off his glove … he looked really good.”
Wilson played 10 minutes and had two shots on goal. Kerfoot played 12:17, had one shot – he was passing up shots again -- and picked up an assist on J.T. Compher’s empty-net goal with 19.9 seconds to play.
Jost played 12:32 and didn’t have a shot on goal, but he had two takeaways and won four of seven faceoffs. Every other Avalanche player who took more than one faceoff had a losing percentage.
“We had chances and we have to capitalize on some of them, but I thought we were skating really well and were really responsible in the D zone,” Jost said. “We didn’t give them much off the defensive side of things, so that was a plus.
“We had a lot of O-zone time. We didn’t spend too much time in our D zone. There was a lot of neutral zone and offensive zone time, and that’s what we want. I thought we played good. We just got to build on that.”
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Bednar was raving about second-year defenseman Samuel Girard, who logged 20:47 in ice time, had a shot on goal, blocked three shots and looked as elusive as ever despite adding about 16 pounds to his 5-feet-10 frame; he now weighs about 178.
“I think he has the potential to be a superstar,” Bednar said. “The work he put in over the summer to add size and strength … you worry about his quickness. From what we’ve seen so far, he looks better. He knows he’s stronger, he knows he can fight off more checks and not get bumped off pucks as much, he’s more experienced, he’s used to playing against bigger guys.
“I think that’s going to continue, Good for him for putting the work in and recognizing that he can still be as quick. He’s a real elusive guy and hard to handle for other teams.”
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Bednar said Semyon Varlamov, who had 20 saves Thursday, will start Saturday against Philadelphia at the Pepsi Center. Philipp Grubauer will make his Avalanche debut Tuesday in Columbus.
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