Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar will make their preseason debut in Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avalanche’s elite players are looking forward to getting game play with the young players vying for a spot on the roster.
“I enjoy it. I enjoy playing with new guys. It’s fun. Even this morning, on the power play with Inny (Jere Innala) and Kovy (Nikolai Kovalenko), just different, different guys,” MacKinnon said. “Obviously, they’re probably really excited on the first unit tonight and get some looks, and it’s obviously a lot of fun.”
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Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Kovalenko will be playing with MacKinnon but does not expect the young Russian to change his game due to his linemates.
“The best thing you can do is just continue to do what you’ve done to this point, play to your strengths,” Bednar said. “The Dallas game — he was a hard-working, straight line player. He made some great plays. He protected the puck very well, and then he gave it up to some other guys in scoring areas. And if he can do that tonight, he’s likely to get rewarded for that work. I don’t want him to change his game and turn into something he’s not and get too cute with it, because it’s likely not going to turn out the way he wants it to.”
Kovalenko earned two assists during the 14:22 he was on the ice in the 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday. He had two shots on goal and played with the power play unit. While he will not be replacing Jonathan Drouin, coaches and staff are determining if and where he could slide into the team’s lineup.
It will be good experience for the 24-year-old forward to play on the top line with MacKinnon and Rantanen. The team’s leaders will help guide the young player with their knowledge of the structure and systems used.
“I think it’s good. Me and Nate and Drouin, we have been together the whole camp. Now we see another guy on the left wing, and there’s some other line combinations, which is good,” Rantanen said. “I think it’s good for the coaches to see, because there’s situations in the season when somebody gets injured, or something happens in the game, you need to switch lines, and then, you kind of know who might have success.”
The 28-year-old Finn said he’s ready to get into game mode after a long stretch of training camp and practices.
“Practicing is always fun, but I think games are more fun, so I’m excited to play a game instead of practice,” he said.
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