Colorado Avalanche: Best Goals from the Checking Line
The Colorado Avalanche’s checking line was surprisingly good last season. Here are three great goals the players potted in.
The Colorado Avalanche had two consistent lines last season. One was the superstar line — which never got a proper name. It consisted of our stars, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.
Surprisingly, the other consistent line was the checking line. More games than not, coach Jared Bednar lined up Carl Soderberg, Matthew Nieto and Blake Comeau. While the rookies and other veterans vied for spots on the second and fourth lines, these three players consistently found work together.
As you can imagine, this was not a high-scoring line. That said, they were just oh-so-consistent. They were numbers six, seven and eight on the team for scoring:
- Carl Soderberg: 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists)
- Blake Comeau: 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists)
- Matt Nieto: 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists)
So, as you can see, the line accounted for 97 points (44 goals, 53 assists). That’s really not too shabby for a checking line.
Now, NHL journeymen such as the players on this line aren’t known for scoring highlight-reel goals. Nonetheless, let’s look at some of the notable tallies these players scored in the 2017-18 season.
Matt Nieto’s Game-Winning Goal
The Colorado Avalanche finished out 2017 on a high note with a 6-1 win over the New York Islanders. The game-winning goal was scored by Matt Nieto.
Side rant: Now, the Avs have a habit of hosting games at home on New Years’ Eve. Once or twice, the game started late, which made it convenient for the game to be your NYE plans. These last few years, though, the game has started at 6 pm MT — meaning you have to come up with a separate NYE plan. Annoying.
Anyway, Nietoi’s goal. The play came at just under six minutes into the second period. The action is in the Islanders’ zone. The Avs players are making New York goalie Jaroslav Halak work as he makes one, two, three saves in a row.
Finally, Nieto works his way in front of Halak. Carl Soderberg fakes a tip-in attempt but instead feeds the puck to Matt. While falling, Nieto tips in the puck past Halak to put the Avs up 2-0:
That’s a hard-work goal, which you expect from your journeymen.
Blake Comeau’s Short-Handed Goal
Winger Blake Comeau scored an impressive three short-handed goals last season. Who knew Mr. Pass on the Breakaway had it in him?
My personal favorite of Comeau’s short-handed goals came against the Ottawa Senators in Sweden. The play was something of a recreation of the infamous Breakaway Pass debacle in that it came on the breakaway.
Only this time, instead of passing on the breakaway, Comeau takes the shot:
And he scores. Amazing what happens when you don’t leave the heavy lifting to another player.
The Colorado Avalanche went on to lose the game 4-3, which was less than ideal. However, Blake Comeau got over his own personal demon by scoring during a short-handed breakaway.