Jared Bednar is not willing to bench Nathan MacKinnon, even if the Avalanche star can only play during power plays and when the net is empty in a must-win Game 4 on Monday night.
That was the update from Colorado today, as the Avs are down 0-3 in their second-round matchup against Vegas and are facing elimination away from home.
Insider Mark Lazerus shared a quote that has caused a stir on hockey Twitter.
The way it’s expressed is important. Bednar isn’t saying MacKinnon will play a full game. He’s pointing out that having a half-healthy MacKinnon is still better than anyone else he can put in.
That’s a big deal for a coach who’s in a tough situation. It also shows a lot about how strong Colorado’s roster is when the pressure is on in the playoffs.
MacKinnon is listed as day-to-day because of a problem with his lower body. He has already scored 15 points in 12 playoff games this spring, including 3 goals during power plays.
Having a lower-body issue pushes Colorado to make a tough choice.
At 30 years old, he achieved 127 points in 80 regular-season games and had a +57 rating. You wouldn’t sit a player like him unless he just can’t play at all.
Bednar pretty much confirmed what everyone thought. If MacKinnon can stand on the blue line during a power play, that’s enough to get him on the roster.
Here’s the tricky part. The Golden Knights have scored 12 goals compared to Colorado’s 6 over the first three games of this series, including a 5-3 defeat in Vegas on Sunday night.
Having a limited MacKinnon on the second power-play unit is more like a last-ditch effort than a solid strategy. It’s similar to sending out a starting quarterback with an injured leg because the backup keeps making mistakes.
But what’s the other option? Cale Makar has 5 points in 10 playoff games. Martin Necas has only 1 goal in 12 games. The top players really need to step up.
Watch the warmup closely. If MacKinnon plays his usual shifts, it means his injury isn’t too serious. But if he’s only on the ice for power plays, it seems more like he’s just there for show rather than playing a real role.
Chris MacFarland created this team with the goal of winning another Cup. On Monday, we will find out if the star player can even get on the ice to give it a shot.
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