Martin Kaut’s good luck continued as a late Samual Girard goal sealed a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and moved his NHL record to played five won five since being called up from the Colorado Eagles.
This game, however, was all about Tyson Jost. The 21 year old center has had a tough year points wise, despite being singled out by his coach for playing the right way. I’m sure for Jost it was nice to hear Jared Bednar say those things, not to mention the confidence boost the extra time on ice would have brought, but goals matter. Especially for a first round, top ten draft pick. Playing on the fourth line is probably not what he, or the Avalanche, expected.
Going into Friday night’s game against the Hurricanes Jost had 17 points and only 5 goals so far this season. Three of those came against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 19th last year. Since then he’s scored only once, against Chicago on November 30th. But just like buses, when one Tyson Jost goal comes others are not far behind.
He opened the scoring 6:34 into the first period after putting pressure on Jake Gardiner on a nothing puck up ice by Erik Johnson. Gardiner lost his balance and the puck leaving Jost free to race through on goal before sending a wrist-shot pasted Anton Forsberg.
Then 12:51 into the second period he doubled the lead, picking up Cale Makar’s pass with his first touch and sliding it under Forsberg with his second. Again he made his own luck by pestering the Hurricanes defenders who couldn’t get the puck out of their defensive zone leading to Makar having time to play the pass.
Remember it was only Monday as trade deadline approached that Avalanche fans were awaiting the news of a Jost trade. It didn’t happen and General Manager Joe Sakic admitted he didn’t know where the rumors came from, which indicated either the young center was never really on the trade block or an offer wasn’t made matching the Avalanche value.
Avalanche sink Ducks
Carolina pulled two goals back in the third period before Sam Girard got the game winning goal with 2:37 remaining, sending the Avalanche into Nashville on Saturday three points out of top spot in the Central Division with two games less played than current leaders the St Louis Blues.
