Connauton to Make Series Debut in Game 2

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Kevin Connauton will play in his first game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight in Game 2 of the second-round set against the Dallas Stars.
Connauton enters the lineup after head coach Jared Bednar announced after morning skate that Erik Johnson will be out indefinitely with an injury he suffered on Saturday in Game 1, a contest the Avs dropped 5-3.
"Just want to play hard for the guys," Connauton said of his mindset in entering the lineup. "Unfortunate circumstances going in, but I've been working hard since I got back to Denver for training camp and since we got up here. Just keep myself prepared and ready to go."

The Edmonton, Alberta, native appeared in four contests with the Avalanche this season and has played in 314 NHL games in his career. Connauton made his league debut in the 2013-14 campaign with Dallas--playing in four playoff games that year as well--and has also spent time with the Columbus Blues Jackets and Arizona Coyotes organizations.

This year, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound rear guard also skated in 38 games for the Colorado Eagles, the Avs' American Hockey League affiliate, and totaled 27 points (five goals, 22 assists).
"Before this year, he played in the NHL most of his whole career," said Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon of Connauton during the team's training camp before heading to Edmonton. "He is a solid player, likes to jump in the rush. Great guy as well, great team guy, which is important."
Colorado acquired Connauton in June 2019 in a trade with Arizona, and his experience added more depth to the team's blue line. During the Avs' July training camp, rookie D-man Cale Makar missed some time and Connauton was selected to practice on a pairing with Nikita Zadorov in a top-six spot while the squad was preparing to play the most competitive hockey of the year.
Connauton's familiarity with the league combined with his skill set led Bednar to give him the nod in Game 2, although the bench boss had many solid options to choose from.

"I don't know that there is a wrong decision here or a clear-cut right decision to be honest with you," Bednar said of picking a defenseman to enter the lineup with Johnson out. "I have really liked all those guys in training camp, including Bo Byram. Connauton has played real well for us when he's come in, and I've really liked his training camp. The reason that he gets the nod today [is he's a] big-body guy that can skate and he's strong, and then his puck moving is one of the strengths of his game. The final thing really that I like too is the experience. He's been here before. He understands where we are at, and this is a big game for us.
"[He's] been skating in the big group for most of the time that we've been here in the bubble and been out on the ice with our team and going through the practices and preparation for this series. I think they all kind of have their strengths on what they can bring to our team, and it's a tough decision… It's his size and skating ability I like and then the experience. We'll just keep an eye on our D situation and just keep trying to plug the guys in that are playing the best that can give us the best opportunity to win. I don't know how fluid that is going to be, our play will dictate that."
Colorado looks to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1 tonight at Rogers Place in Edmonton.