Discipline and communication were a couple things the Avalanche lacked in the 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
Discipline and communication were a couple things the Avalanche lacked in the 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews spoke candidly following the 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks but his words should not have shocked the hockey world as much as social media showed.
The team outshot the Blackhawks 37-22 despite the final score and the loss was very much self-inflicted. So what went wrong?
“It's self-awareness of knowing the situation and knowing the way the game's trending — got guys that are going out against our structure and doing things that we don't do as a team, and that's what's frustrating," Toews told Guerilla Sports reporter Jesse Montano after the game.
The 29-year-old also said it's frustrating to have 14 guys who play within the team's structure and six who don't, making it difficult to win games not having everyone on the same page. As a leader on the team, Toews may suggest a players-only meeting, if one hasn't taken place already.
“I think we got some guys who think they’re playing well and I think they’re kidding themselves at this point," Toews said. "It’s frustrating to play with — play out there when you got guys that think they’re playing well and they’re doing things that you have no idea what play they’re gonna make or where they're going to be on the ice.”
He did not mention anyone specifically by name, but anyone who has been watching Avalanche games can figure out their play has been inconsistent. The few games they have played fluidly are few and far between.
"Again, starting to become a broken record but I thought we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times tonight," head coach Jared Bednar told media after the loss.
There seems to be an imbalance in the team's chemistry but Bednar said missing key players has thrown that off.
"It's a mindset that we have to adapt as a team, maturity of our team and then a real good understanding that we don't have to force things. We're a good enough team if we play the right way to create enough goals to win hockey games and we're probably giving up less when we do that," Bednar said. "We'll keep driving it into these guys and they'll get it. Where some nights were better than others, there's no question — still a work in progress."
Discipline has been an issue with a few players in the past two matchups. Miles Wood was assessed five minors and one misconduct, while Ryan Johansen racked up one minor and two misconducts through both games.
Bednar said Wood spoke to him after the game and took responsibility for his actions — that his frustration got the best of him and he did not respond the right way. It's not a surprise for his style of play and history with penalties — 471 penalties in minutes in 434 career games — but it's still something he needs to tighten up. He currently has 44 PIMs this season.
The Avalanche were trending in the direction of fewer penalties with a more disciplined game but now sit in fifth place for total PIMs (364) in the NHL and sixth place for PIMs per game (11.4).
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