Colorado Avalanche sophomore forward Tyson Jost ended his goal scoring drought with his second-ever two-goal night against the Sharks.
The Colorado Avalanche didn’t give us much to like tonight in their game against the San Jose Sharks. At one point they were down 5-1, and that’s not how you win hockey games.
Spoiler alert: The Avs didn’t win.
However, one of the bright spots of the night was that sophomore forward Tyson Jost ended his scoring drought in a decisive fashion. He scored two goals.
Prior to tonight’s game, Jost hadn’t scored a goal in 16 games. Some Avs fans were getting downright fractious, calling the 20-year-old a bust.
I think I’ve gone on enough Jost rants for you all to know how I feel about talk like that. However, what added fuel to my fire was David Pastrnak. I was watching the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, and Pastrnak was having himself a game — a goal and assist kind of game.
The broadcast flashed his stats on the screen, and I saw that the Boston Bruins forward had earned 27 and 26 points respectively his first two seasons in the NHL.
His third season, he earned 70. Then 80 the next season. And 40 games into this season, he has 50 points. Pastrnak is 22 years old, and he was a first-rounder in 2014 (#25 overall).
Even in the modern-day, youth-oriented NHL, 22 years old is not veteran or even peak. And 20 years old sure as, ah, hell isn’t bust territory. Jost has just as much, if not more, talent as Pastrnak — he bears a little patience.
Well, the kid came through tonight. What I’ve loved about Jost’s game since the first shift I saw from him in burgundy and blue is he has no quit. 48-point season with only six games left? Of course he’s going to forecheck like a bulldog. Team is up 6-2 over the Minnesota Wild? Of course he’s going to forecheck like a bulldog.
That whole cow hearts and stomachs thing from Marc Moser? Yeah, that’s Tyson Jost to a tee. And that’s why I champion his cause so vehemently.
Anyway, Jost didn’t win the game for the team tonight, but he did end his own personal scoring drought by sheer will. Never mind that on any given night he doesn’t know what line coach Jared Bednar is going to put him on, he’s going to be head down and skating like a bullet the whole time.
The first goal came when the team was down 5-1. It was late in the second, and straits looked dire. However, Jost received a pass from his good buddy J.T. Compher as he, Jost, was driving the net. From there, it was a Josty special of finishing the play:
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What I like beyond the fact that it was a Jost — and by association Avalanche — goal is that Tyson has the good sense to not celebrate. The team is still down 5-2, so no sense celebrating. Patrick Roy would have been so proud of his esoteric reaction.
Right after this, Jost got tangled up with Erik Karlsson and ended up without a helmet for the play so, you know, eff off Erik.
Anyway, moving on. Tyson Jost’s second goal of the night came later in the third. By that point the Avalanche were down just 5-3 thanks to the other Tyson, Barrie. (We’re not forgiving him for all the brutal turnovers, though.)
Colorado was on the power play thanks to the referees finally noticing that Brenden Dillon was doing bad, bad things to Avalanche players. They finally called him for interference on Alexander Kerfoot.
This time, it was another sophomore, defenseman Samuel Girard, who set up Jost for the goal. It’s also another Josty special — this time, an example of our young forward setting up in front of the net:
Like I said, Jost doesn’t give up on plays.
This time, we do see some celebration. But you know what, I’m ok with that. Jost plays best when he’s feeling confident. So, maybe tonight’s goals gave him some confidence.
Last season, Jost had 26 points. So far, he has 11 points in 36 games, putting him on pace for 24 points. 27 and 26… followed by 70.
Do you really want to give up on a young talent like Tyson Jost just yet, Colorado Avalanche fans? Because I personally don’t think that’s a good idea.