The Colorado Avalanche have not had the best start to their season due to injuries and poor defense. However, they have won two games in a row after losing their first four, which has created an opportunity for Ross Colton to shine.
The 28-year-old winger moved up to the top line because Jonathan Drouin is injured. He scored two goals in the Avalanche’s 4-1 win against San Jose on Sunday.
Colton has five goals in his last three games and is tied for second in the NHL with six goals. Playing with top players like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen has definitely helped him.
“Those are two of the best players in the world,” Colton said. “I’m just trying to play my game, get open for them. Just find the smallest areas, and they find you on the ice. It’s been fun.”
Colton’s first goal on Sunday was during a power play, thanks to a pass from MacKinnon. His second goal came during a fast break, with Rantanen making a lead pass that let Colton zoom past two defenders into the offensive zone.
Colton, wearing an extra-large Avalanche hat in the locker room as the player of the game, mentioned he tries not to overthink playing with Rantanen and MacKinnon. He feels that he has built a good connection with them over the past few games.
“My favorite thing about playing with them is just coming back to the bench, and the little things that they tell you make a big difference,” Colton said. “It goes a long way, coming from those guys — that they believe in me.”
This is Colton’s second season with the Avalanche, after spending his first three seasons with Tampa Bay. Last season, he had his best year, scoring 17 goals and adding 23 assists. He also led his team in the playoffs with 43 hits.
“I just think he’s playing with a ton of confidence,” coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s staking really well. He’s got the right amount of grit to his game. He’s playing really well right now. He’s fitting in with those guys, and when he’s getting opportunities to score, he’s the one guy that’s putting it in the back of the net.”
Drouin, who scored 19 goals last season, has not played since the first game of the season due to an upper body injury. Colorado is also missing other key players, including Gabe Landeskog (knee), Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder), Valeri Nichushkin (suspension), and defenseman Devon Toews (lower body).
With Drouin out, Colton has stepped up on both the top line and the power play. Three of Colton’s goals this season have come while on the power play, and Rantanen said it’s been enjoyable to play alongside him.
“He plays hard, plays with the edge,” Rantanen said. “On the power play, he’s good with loose pucks, good at finishing plays, like we’ve seen this year.”
Colton mentioned that the game feels a bit slower for him this season as a winger, compared to last year when he played center and didn’t always feel like himself. Being a winger gives him more freedom to pressure opponents and create turnovers.
“Last year, my first year here, just feeling it out, kind of learning the system — wasn’t always myself,” Colton said. “Way more comfortable this year.”
