Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar presented the highs and lows of the team's first 41 games. The Avalanche saw production from all four lines, including a first NHL goal, in their 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators. Coming off a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens the night before, Colorado stepped up and found a way to come back after going down two goals to the Sens. It was the team's 15th comeback win of the season. "We were lacking some energy for sure, We had bursts offensively but when you're a little tired you kind of get a little complacent, loose defensively. It takes a lot of effort to try and get the legs going to defend so we were giving up too much ...," head coach Jared Bednar said [https://x.com/guerillasports_/status/1747459569691840674?s=20]. "We found a way, I thought our depth was good ... just grinded away an ugly win." Eleven different players earned points, eight coming from defensemen. The highlights of the game were from the non-regulars — Jason Polin scored his first-ever NHL goal and Sam Malinski tallied the game-winner. "It's a dream come true, and I couldn't be happier with the result," Polin told Guerilla Sports reporter Jesse Montano after the win [https://x.com/guerillasports_/status/1747455178037502009?s=20]. As for how his experience has been since being called up from the Colorado Eagles, Polin said, "These guys have been great with me. Helping me out in situations, been great mentors and just trying to absorb as much as I can." Malinski had a goal and an assist but could've been a three-point game had a goal not been nullified due to a close offside call. The 25-year-old from Cornell University has greatly improved his game through his first NHL season. Sam Malinski. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDg3MDQ3NTIyOTg1Nzgw/usatsi_22160351_168401874_lowres.jpg] Sam Malinski. "He played hard, start to finish tonight, good puck moving again," Bednar said. "Just continues to try and just keep pushing it a little bit more on the offensive side, which is great — exactly what we want to see from a guy like him." Justus Annunen was recalled from the Eagles for the five-game road trip and Bednar went with him between the pipes on Tuesday night. He made 36 saves in the win over the Sens. "It's totally different ball game," Annunen said about his first NHL start this season. "Hopefully I get couple more, get used to tempo and stuff." Justus Annunen. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNzAwMTgwNDQzMjExNjY2/usatsi_22310780_168401874_lowres.jpg] Justus Annunen. Malinski wasn't the only Colorado defenseman to contribute to the scoresheet — Sam Girard had three points, Devon Toews had two and Cale Makar had one. Mikko Rantanen scored two goals, which Nathan MacKinnon assisted on both, extending the forwards' point streaks to nine games each. Miles Wood put one in the back of the net after missing five games due to illness and Logan O'Connor had a goal and an assist in the win. Colorado will face off against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night still with a depleted bench. Bednar said Artturi Lehkonen and Bowen Byram are close to getting back in the lineup but confirmed they won't play against the Bruins. He's hoping both of them will be good to go back at Ball Arena against the Washington Capitals next Wednesday. RECENT AVALANCHE ARTICLES Avalanche 2023-24 schedule for January [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-2023-24-schedule-for-january] Avalanche look to bounce back from loss to Canadiens against Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-look-to-bounce-back-from-loss-to-canadiens-against-senators] Avalanche goalie named third star of the week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-goalie-named-third-star-of-the-week] Valeri Nichushkin enters NHL Player Assistance Program [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-forward-enters-nhl-player-assistance-program]
