The Colorado Avalanche are preparing for a Tuesday night showdown against the Detroit Red Wings, just two days after securing a shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. After the victory on Saturday, head coach Jared Bednar shared an interesting tidbit from the bench that led to the shootout decision.
Typically, the coach makes the call on who will take the shootout shot, but it was Jonathan Drouin who took the initiative. When Bednar informed Drouin that he was next to shoot, Drouin suggested that Brock Nelson should be the one to take the opportunity instead.
This move was a significant display of leadership from Drouin. Rather than taking the shot as expected, he opted to pass the responsibility to Nelson, believing he had a better chance of scoring. This selflessness, especially in such a high-pressure situation, shows a sense of maturity and trust in his teammates, reflecting a strong team-first mentality. After all, with shootouts only allowing one chance per player, this was a notable decision.
As for Nelson’s performance, his shootout goal involved a slight move to the left before firing a wrist shot past Canadiens’ goalie Sam Montembeault to secure the win. While the in-depth analysis of the play is left to experts, it’s clear that his calm and calculated approach earned the Avalanche the crucial extra point.
Drouin’s decision also speaks to the developing chemistry between him and his new teammates, having only joined the Avalanche in July 2023. Despite only being with the team for a short time, the connection between him and Nelson seems to be already paying off. Both players will be free agents after this season, and it will be interesting to see if they choose to stay with Colorado. If they do, their growing bond could turn into a long-term asset, similar to the on-ice chemistry shared by star players like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
The Avalanche, with just 12 players remaining from their 2022 Stanley Cup-winning roster, are looking to repeat their success. The leadership and experience of the returning champions will be crucial as the team heads toward the postseason, and moments like these, where teammates trust each other, can play a big role in their pursuit of another Cup. The desire to win is there—it’s now just about how much each player is willing to contribute to that goal.
