Landeskog Keeps Climbing Franchise Charts After Overtime Goal

Gabriel Landeskog didn't like his first shot attempt in overtime, but he was able to pick up his own rebound and made his second count.
Landeskog scored on that next shot with a wraparound effort that gave the Colorado Avalanche a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday night.
The sequence was created from a 2-on-0 rush with Cale Makar after the defenseman intercepted goalie John Gibson's stretch pass in the neutral zone. Landeskog's ensuing shot went low and Gibson was able to make a stretching stop, but the Avs captain was able to stick with the play and took advantage of a soon favorable situation.

"I definitely wasn't happy with my first shot. I got to be able to raise the puck there," Landeskog said. "You know the goalies there, especially a world-class goalie like Gibson, he's going to take away the low play so you got to raise it. But I was able to stay with it and come around the net and I saw Gibson was out of his crease a little bit. I tried to stuff it as fast as I could. Good feeling to score in OT, no doubt."
It was Landeskog's fifth career OT-winner and his 32nd game-winning goal, which moved him past Anton Stastny and into sole possession of seventh place in franchise history for game-winners. He also assisted on Mikko Rantanen's tally earlier in the game to finish with his second multi-point outing of the season and give him 465 career points, passing Dale Hunter (464) for ninth place on the franchise's all-time scoring list.

Since the 3-on-3 overtime was implemented in 2015-16, most coaches have tended to deploy a trio of two forwards and one defenseman. In this instance, head coach Jared Bednar used two blueliners and a forward to make sure his team was responsible defensively.
With the Avs having the luxury of four offensive-minded D-men in Makar, Bowen Byram, Samuel Girard and Devon Toews on their roster, Bednar was able to accomplish both of his defensive and offensive goals in OT, and it paid off with Makar's takeaway coming soon after Landeskog entered the ice from a line change.
"We liked the way those four D were playing, and it was something that we had planned coming into it," Bednar said. "We haven't done a great job of checking in overtime (in years past)… I'm not trying to put a threesome out on the ice to go play run-and-gun and traded chances in overtime. We're trying to get the extra point, and if that means two D and one forward then that's what we're going to do."
Landeskog's overtime goal was his first since scoring on Oct. 17, 2016 at the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his second of his career versus the Ducks. His first-ever NHL OT marker came at home against Anaheim on March 12, 2012.

GRUBAUER STELLAR

After playing each of the first three games of the season, Philipp Grubauer got the first half of the back-to-back off on Thursday to rest up a bit as the Avs continue a four-games-in-six-nights stretch. A little down time might have benefit the Colorado netminder as he made a season-high 36 saves in Friday's victory in Anaheim.
"He feels strong, confident, he looks determined. He's battling on every puck, in practices, games," Bednar said of Grubauer. "He's confident, and I just think he's going to have a great year for us. He's certainly started out that way. Every game he's played for us so far, he's been fantastic and hopefully that can continue."

Grubauer had to be on top of his game early as the Ducks had a strong push at the start and were able to get 18 shots on goal in the opening period.
"He was the best player on the ice I thought. No doubt about it," Landeskog said. "I thought Grubi made some key saves on the PK. For the most part there wasn't that many rebounds laying around. He was definitely our best player."
The victory improves Grubauer's record to 3-1-0 on the campaign, while his .931 save percentage presently ranks as the third-best in the league after the first 10 days of the new season.

BO ON THE BOARD

After making his NHL debut on Thursday night, rookie Bowen Byram picked up another first on Friday by getting his first point with an assist on Mikko Rantanen's goal in the third period.
The defenseman displayed his vision and skill on the play, as he skated down the left-wing wall and fed a pass to Rantanen in front of the net that went between a Ducks defender's legs.
"I just got the puck at the top of the blue line and just tried to move my feet to create some space," Byram said. "I saw Mikko on the back so I tried to get it to him, and he put it in the net so it's good. It was a big goal in a tight game, and it helped us get a win so that was the most important part."
Byram also finished his second career contest with four shots on net and a plus-1 rating in 14:24 of ice time.
"He looked more comfortable tonight, and that's pretty impressive given that it was only his second NHL game," said Landeskog. "I definitely thought he looked confident and poised with the puck, and he was making some great plays with and without the puck.
"I'm excited to see what the future holds for Bo."

MORE NOTES

Colorado finished 1-for-4 on the power play and has scored at least one man-advantage goal in every game so far this season. The Avs' 10 power-play tallies are the club's most through its first five games in franchise history and the most of any team in the NHL this year. The Avalanche is currently converting on 40 percent of its chances (10-for-25).
Mikko Rantanen extended his goal streak to four games, a new career long. He has registered six points (four goals, two assists) in those outings.
Ryan Graves played in his 100th career NHL game.
Samuel Girard recorded his fifth assist of the season and fourth that has come on the power play. Girard and teammate Cale Makar are tied for the league lead in power-play assists.
Martin Kaut made his season debut for the Avalanche.
Andre Burakovsky missed his third-straight game with an upper-body injury, but he could return for Sunday's contest at the Ducks if he continues his positive progression, according to head coach Jared Bednar.