CHN+•Colorado Avalanche•Deen's Notebook
SAN JOSE, Calif. – I was absolutely baffled when the San Jose Sharks let Joonas Donskoi go on the open market last summer. To me, I saw a guy who had size, some skill and really good wheels. I saw him as an unheralded but important player on some San Jose Sharks teams that advanced deep into the playoffs when he was there.
Not that I’m some talent scout expert, because Joe Sakic obviously thought the same thing when he and the Avalanche quickly snapped him up as a free agent last July 1, signing him to a four-year, $15.6 million contract. How has it worked out for the Avs since?
The smile on Donskoi’s face (above) answers most of that question. The 27-year-old Finnish right winger scored the game-winning goal in his first game back to San Jose. What looked to be just an insurance goal for the Avs was needed, when the Sharks cut a two-goal deficit in half with under a minute remaining in Sunday’s game here at a half-empty Shark Tank.
Colorado held on for the 4-3 victory, one that got them to within two points again of St. Louis for first place in not only the Central Division but the entire Western Conference. The Avs can take over the top spot with a victory in Los Angeles Monday night, in the finale of this three-game road trip.
For Donskoi, it was a special night. Not only because of the game-winner, but because he got a nice tribute from the Sharks during a stoppage in play in the first period.
“That was cool, and I appreciate it,” Donskoi said afterward. “I spent four years here, and there are lots of great memories. I was a little nervous, more than usual, for this one.”
The hotel where the Avs stayed in San Jose is right across the street from where Donskoi lived here, so he didn’t do anything exotic in his trip back. He didn’t go see all his old haunts or anything, mostly just going to dinner with teammates like always. That said, it was a “weird” feeling being here as a visiting player for the first time.
“It was a new experience. But I saw a lot of familiar faces here at the rink,” he said.
On his goal, Donskoi said, “I hadn’t scored in a while, so it felt pretty good. (J.T Compher) made a great pass to me, and I just deflected it.”
Indeed, the goal was Donskoi’s first in nine games, and his first point in six games.
The Avs got a big game from the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and Vladislav Namestnikov, all of whom scored a goal. MacKinnon had two assists, with Landeskog adding one.
“I loved our pace. I thought we skated really well,” Jared Bednar said. “Our big guys were outstanding. We’ll take it. I like the two points.”
The two points bring the Avs’ total on the season to 90, with 14 games to play. Their season total for all of last year? 90 points.
“There’s been definite improvement in the group. We’ve talked a lot about being more consistent defensively, staying committed. Not perfect every night, but there’s been improvement there,” Bednar said. “I think we’re better off right now than we were last year.”
NOTES AND OTHER TAKEAWAYS
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