And Necas doesn’t pass up on shots when he’s not playing with MacKinnon.

I also wanted to note that the 2nd line was the only Avs line that was disappointing – aside from Colton getting injured and disrupting the 3rd. I’m in the camp that feels Drouin should just be stapled to MacKinnon. And it’s not just because Nate makes Drou a lot better – I believe Drou raises Nate’s game higher as well. When those two are out there together at 5-on-5, it’s like a pair of ballet dancers who can read each other’s minds. Lehky will be fine no matter who he plays with – he’s matchup proof – but Drouin and MacKinnon are much better together than apart, so I think we need to roll that combo.

I also want to shout out my boy Kivi. He played really hard last night and was very noticeable every time he hit the ice. You have to think he feels Landy’s breath on his back, and is doing everything he can to show why he should stay in the lineup. Man, it feels great having depth and high-quality options!

League should fine him for embellishment.

I’m glad they took their time with Manson’s recovery and we need to remember this was his first game in about a month.

I thought Nelson and Nuke were kind of quiet in the first game. That will happen. But it was Blacky that really kept the momentum going for the Avs with his stellar goaltending. I think the best comment of the game was when DeBoer commented to the difference in the Colorado team of last year and this year – – “they didn’t have Blackwood.”