The Tampa Bay Lightning start their four-game road trip with a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche. Kähkönen made his first start with Colorado.
Losses and injuries are becoming a song the Avalanche are tired of singing as they drop their latest game to the Tampa Bay Lightning. This game follows a devastating loss to Colorado's forward core in 28-year-old Ross Colton, who was among NHL leaders in goals before his injury. Now sitting and resting a broken foot, it will be at least 6-8 weeks until the Avalanche see him return.
The Avalanche also missed forward Miles Wood last night after a lingering upper-body injury he had been playing through the last couple of games finally became more serious. He will miss at least 7-10 days.
With the Avalanche also missing a few other key forwards to injury, fortunately, Head Coach Jared Bednar was able to give an update on at least one of those players and when they may return. That player is none other than Artturi Lehkonen.
"We're aiming for Tuesday against Seattle," Bednar said when asked about his return last night. Now, this is no guarantee, but Lehkonen is participating in full team skates and looks more than ready to finally return to the fold.
Unfortunately, there are no return projections for Jonathan Drouin or Captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has not played since the game that won Colorado the cup against the Lightning in 2022.
Regarding Drouin, Bednar said he's "ramping up" and finally started taking controlled contact in team skates. "He's still a little sore...you'll probably find out [when he returns] the day he's playing."
The Point Streaks Continue
Both Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar extended their season-opening point streaks last night to 11 games.
Makar, who celebrated his birthday last night with a goal, also joined the NHL record books. His 11-game season-opening point streak becomes the second longest in NHL history by a defenseman. His streak falls only behind Bobby Orr's run in the 1973-74 season (15 games).
Kaapo Kähkönen Makes His Season Debut
Despite the shaky first period, Kähkönen put on an impressive performance in last night's game. Coach Bednar seemed impressed by how he played behind the team.
"You look at those four goals, [Kähkönen] probably wants the first one back. It's a great shot, right in the slot, one-timer, well-placed. The other three, he's got no chance, you know? ... I think he made a lot of nice saves and I don't think, outside of those chances, they were super dangerous. But he did a nice job. I can't fault him for any of those goals."
Tampa Bay's elite passing, speed, and positioning led to most of their goals last night. Nikita Kucherov got the scoring started. He sat in the slot as Brayden Point used his speed to his advantage and wound himself deep in the zone, found Kucherov, and found the Lightning a goal on their first shot of the game.
Jake Guentzel got things going next for the Lightning. Kucherov uses his speed to get deep into the offensive zone and finds Guentzel, who's sitting at the near post, with a smart pass from the trapezoid. This was Guentzel's first of the night.
Right after the Avalanche get their first shot of the night off, the Lightning take it the other way, and with an elaborate passing sequence in front of Kähkönen, Conor Geekie puts it in the net for his second of the year, making it 3-0 in favor of Tampa Bay.
Before the first period concludes, Colorado's power play showed off why they have the third-best percentage in the league. Forward Ivan Ivan tips a wicked shot by Cale Makar (happy birthday, #8!) from the point and earns the second goal of his career.
Coach Bednar had a lot (A LOT!) of great things to say about the rookie forward, noting how much of an unexpected "bright spot" he's been.
"He was great tonight. When you're talking about bright spots besides some of the ones you would expect. He's definitely one of them. He looks and plays, he's still learning the game a little bit, and just how hard and competitive I think you have to be in order to have success here. But he started using his skating a little bit more. He's a great skater, a really strong skater and it looks like he's kind of got the governor on at times, so we're trying to push him to use that to his advantage, and he's starting to do that. But he plays the game in such a responsible fashion. He's good on both sides of the puck. He looks more and more like a seasoned pro every day...In the time he has on ice, he's up there with, if not [at] the top of the league right now. He's doing that and still finding a way to chip in, playing power play as well, and he's done a nice job in that bumper spot just supporting the puck, making plays in and out of there. He's getting dangerous at times. He's been really good."
Guentzel had his second goal of the night in the second period, which was the lone goal for the entire 20 minutes. Surprisingly, that was not the most interesting part of the period.
Matt Stienburg, a recent call-up from the AHL Colorado Eagles, earned himself not only two minutes for roughing on Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons but a 5 and a game for charging forward Erik Cernak. "He left his feet," Bednar said earnestly about the call post-game. An honest assessment. This play was reviewed in a hearing today, resulting in a two-game suspension. He was sent back down to the Eagles earlier today.
Cernak did leave the game early, appearing injured after the hit. No update has been provided on when he will return, but the hope from the team is that the injury recovery will be a quick one so he can return as soon as possible.
Cale Makar had the only other goal for the Avalanche, which came at the 9:03 mark of the third period. The shot came after a humongous push and a couple of missed chances for the team, and fortunately for them, Makar was able to put it away from the blue line.
The last goal, an insurance goal for the Lightning, came by way of Anthony Cirelli in the form of an empty-netter. The Lightning finished with a 5-2 win over Colorado.
What's Next for the Avalanche?
Colorado will practice tomorrow before making the trip to Nashville to face the Predators. Nashville is 3-6-1 on the season. Filip Forsberg currently leads the team in goals (5) and points (9).
This is a quick road trip as the Avalanche will be back at Ball Arena on Tuesday to face the Kraken with their fingers crossed for Lehkonen's return.
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