DENVER – In this battle of attrition, it looks like the Colorado Avalanche are about to get Andrew Cogliano back for Game 2.
Cogliano suffered a broken finger after blocking a shot in Game 4 of the Western Conference final against the Edmonton Oilers and sat out the opener of the Stanley Cup final.
Although Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar stuck with his approach of not announcing lineup decisions, he conceded that Cogliano was an option.
During the morning skate, Cogliano was working with normal penalty killing partner Darren Helm, a sign he is trending to be back in the lineup.
Cogliano is likely to replace Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who had the lowest ice time of any player in Game 1 (6:07).
The Lightning didn’t hold a morning skate on Saturday, but are not expected to make any changes to their lineup.
Lightning forward Brayden Point returned to the lineup for the opener and had just under 19 minutes of ice time.
Although Point didn’t register a shot on goal, there were some signs that he was finding his legs after the long layoff.
The Lightning have made a habit of regrouping after tough outings and they’ll look to stick to that script on Saturday.
“After Game 1, you get a better read and better understanding of the opponent. It’s one thing to see on video, but it’s one thing to be in the game, too,” said Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman. “A few tweaks here and there, but nothing major. We believe in what we are doing. But obviously you see their tendencies more up close, and that’s what we’re working on in video and on the ice.”
MAKAR HELD WITHOUT A SHOT ON GOAL
One of the interesting stats to come out of Game 1 was that the Lightning were able to hold offensive dynamo Cale Makar without a single shot on goal.
It was the first time that happened in 15 games during the Stanley Cup playoffs, though Makar did finish with nine shot attempts (six blocked, three missed the net), so it’s not like he wasn’t getting his looks.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said that facing New York Rangers defenceman Adam Fox in the Eastern Conference final helped prepare his team for the task of trying to keep Makar in check.
“I think he’s just going to keep coming and keep shooting. How many shot attempts…he’s going to keep, like, shooting and shooting and shooting,” said Cooper. “I said this pre-series, we went against Fox. And so I don’t want to sit here and compare them but they do have a similar mind and the way they shoot the puck and so we have had a little bit of practice with them.
“But if you’re thinking he’s not going to have a shot on goal in the series, you’re sorely mistaken. At some point, he’s going to get them through. We were just probably fortunate enough that we were in lanes. We were a little patient with him. But again, he’s eventually going to get some through and I don’t think he’s going to stop shooting. But if we can keep doing this, that helps our game.”
Bednar wasn’t the least bit concerned by the development.
“They did the same thing they do against every other player. Their front blocks a lot of shots, always,” said Bednar. “We’ve seen that in different situations at times even in the playoffs with Cale. I think there was a game in the Nashville series where they had 14 attempts and only had one or two shots but kept shooting it. I’m never going to tell him not to shoot, I trust him and his instincts and usually he has great movement to be able to charge those lanes and sometimes even last game he got it by the first layer and the second guy blocked it.
“That’s part of it. But it’s just making sure that you’re moving and have eyes up (when) shooting and it’s something he does on a consistent basis and if he sees something he likes at the net, I want him to send it there. The blocked shots, hey, they’re going to block a lot. It doesn’t bother me.”
JOHNSON OFFICIALLY A GRADUATE
The Jack Johnson story is an inspiring one.
Not only did he make the Avalanche after attending training camp on a pro tryout offer (PTO), he’s become a regular in the lineup after Sam Girard suffered a broken sternum in Game 3 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues.
Johnson, a 16-year NHL veteran, is playing in his first Stanley Cup Final and his first taste didn’t disappoint.
“It was everything I thought it would be,” said Johnson. “I tried to stay pretty calm, cool and collected going into it, just knowing it’s another hockey game. The adrenaline was going to get going once I got out there on the ice with the atmosphere and the fans and everything. It was pretty incredible. We’re enjoying it, staying in the moment. But there’s a lot of work ahead of us here.”
During his morning session with reporters, Johnson (who was chosen third overall in 2005) was asked about the benefits of spending an extra year in college at the University of Michigan instead of turning pro.
Johnson then volunteered that he recently earned his degree, graduating in general studies.
“No. 1, as a little kid, I never really thought I’d be good enough to play in the NHL,” said Johnson, who has played 1,024 NHL games and another 38 during the Stanley Cup playoffs.”My dream was to play college hockey at University of Michigan. So I wasn’t going to pass up that opportunity at any point. Then, after my freshman year, I just didn’t think I was physically ready enough for the NHL.
“So I wanted to enjoy another year at the University of Michigan and to be quite honest, I wasn’t ready to leave a major university to play in the minors. But I had the time of my life there and don’t regret it one bit. Actually, not to keep dragging, I actually did just graduate. So pretty proud of that as well.”
When Johnson left Michigan after his second year, he made a promise to Wolverines head coach Red Berenson that he would graduate.
And though it took him a little longer than he originally intended, it’s an accomplishment to be celebrated and he called Berenson as soon as he finished the job.
“Let’s see. That take me 18 years? Most people are at least a doctor at that point,” joked Johnson. “Some of the seasons where I wasn’t fortunate enough to make the playoffs, I (went) back for spring terms, online courses. Took advantage of some of the time during the pandemic where they offered some online courses that I normally would have to be on campus for. Just graduated this spring.”
What was the toughest course?
“Statistics. Hands down,” said Johnson. “It was just a big thing for myself, I wanted to do it. Like I said as a kid I grew up dreaming of playing college hockey at Michigan. I wanted to graduate from there — No. 1-ranked public school in the country. So it meant a lot to me.”
LINING THEM UP
Here’s how we expect both teams to start on Saturday night:
Colorado Avalanche
Gabe Landeskog-Nathan MacKinnon-Valeri Nichushkin
Andre Burakovsky-J.T. Compher-Mikko Rantanen
Artturi Lehkonen-Darren Helm-Logan O’Connor
Andrew Cogliano-Nico Sturm-Alex Newhook
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Jack Johnson-Josh Manson
Bowen Byram-Erik Johnson
Darcy Kuemper
Pavel Francouz
Ondrej Palat-Steven Stamkos-Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel-Anthony Cirelli-Alex Killorn
Nick Paul-Brayden Point-Ross Colton
Pat Maroon-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Corey Perry
Victor Hedman-Jan Ruuta
Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev-Zach Bogosian
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
