For Lars Eller, it is not the method that counts, but the result. The former Montreal Canadiens scored another bizarre goal in the Colorado Avalanche’s 5-1 win over the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday.
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The Danish veteran, who was acquired by the Washington Capitals ahead of the trading deadline, appears to be enjoying his new colors. After using a linesman’s generosity to score a controversial goal against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Eller scored again in the game of the day.
At the beginning of the third period, the “Avs” were already in the lead with two goals, but fell into a numerical inferiority. Eller awkwardly got possession entering the wings zone but got up and passed the puck to Valeri Nichushkin. The one-time trader for Jaroslav Halak jumped on the return of his Russian team-mate and scored his ninth goal of the season.
Unsurprisingly, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar led the charge for Jared Bednar’s squad for the remainder of the game. The former scored his 30th goal of the season and had two assists while the latter had three.
MacKinnon became the fifth player in Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques history to score five seasons with 30 goals or more. He was preceded by Joe Sakic, Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet and Milan Hejduk.
Devon Toews, Bowen Byram and Mikko Rantanen also fooled Ville Husso’s vigilance. The Finnish goalkeeper was sent in the shower after conceding five goals from 21 shots.
Pius Suter answered for the Red Wings, who have lost eight of their last ten games.
A great loss for the “Preds”
In Nashville, the Predators lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Winnipeg Jets, but mostly lost the services of their captain and most valuable player, Roman Josi.
The Swiss defender left the game after the first period for unknown reasons. He had played 10 min 6 during that engagement and we didn’t see him after that.
As the recipient of the 2020 Norris Trophy, Josi is the undisputed leader of the “Preds”. After a 96-point campaign last year, he has 59 in 66 games in 2022-23.
After missing his team’s last six games with an upper-body injury, Quebec’s Pierre-Luc Dubois made a winning comeback by setting the stage for Neal Pionk’s winner in overtime.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Adam Lowry also pitched in for the Jets, who now have a five-point lead over the Predators on teams drafted in the West.
Cody Glass and Luke Evangelista flashed the red light in a lost cause.