'We have to just remember that the goal of the game is to get the puck in the net,' Avalanche defenseman says team needed to shoot more
Colorado outshot the New York Islanders 39-22 but Cale Makar didn't think it was enough from his team.
'We have to just remember that the goal of the game is to get the puck in the net,' Avalanche defenseman says team needed to shoot moreNathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar tallied three points each in the 5-4 overtime victory against the New York Islanders. MacKinnon scored the game winner and had seven shots on goal but Makar felt the team slipped a bit in its offensive generation.
“I felt like we were rolling motion-wise, doing the right things to create. I felt at times we weren’t really getting pucks to the net," Makar said. "I think whether it was the end of the second or we had like 50 seconds in their zone and one shot, we just have to remember that the goal of the game is to get the puck in the net. Obviously, we tired them out, but I think we can be more of a threat in the O-zone.”
MacKinnon extended his season-opening home point scoring streak to 20 games, tying the fifth-longest season-opening streak in NHL history — Bernie Federko (1983-84) and Wayne Gretzky (1982-83).
The Avalanche only had four turnovers and played solid defensively with 16 takeaways.
"I thought we really outplayed them for 60 minutes and we almost doubled their shots, and I'm sure scoring chances were in our favor. Overall I thought it was a good game by us.
"We generate a lot of chances, a lot of goals tonight, as well as defensive the last two games — we've been really good limiting what they have," MacKinnon said.
Valeri Nichushkin has scored seven goals in the last eight games, including two in the matchup against the Isles. His effort and rewards have not gone unnoticed.
“He’s great. He’s a beast. It’s fun just to watch him play. He’s so big and powerful. I mean, you guys see it every night, so I don’t need to tell you, but he definitely works his tail off," MacKinnon said. "Off the ice, he’s always in the gym, always trying to get better if it’s optional skates or whatever, so he deserves everything he’s getting.”
Alexandar Georgiev did not play his best game but head coach Jared Bednar remained confident he could earn the win for his team.
"It was a little bit of an off night from him but we've left him in in those situations before when we need a win and he's come up big for us," Bednar said. "So I was contemplating it, but I decided to leave him in tonight and battle for us."
Josh Manson trailed MacKinnon's top number of shots with five. Devon Toews, Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen had four a piece. While Rantenen was the only of the three to not get one in the back of the net, he earned two assists on Jonathan Drouin and MacKinnon's goals.