Vergaege came to my mindLehkonen. 15 goals and 27 points in 31 playoff games with the Avs, many of those goals being clutch while also doing his usual PK and forchecking demon stuff. He’s basically been Nuke but in a smaller package.
Fun fact: Lehk and Nuke have 12 even strength goals apiece the past three playoffs. This is more than MacKinnon or Rantanen. It cannot be understated just how good these two have been for the Avs - both regular season and even more in the playoffs. I still see people thinking Lehkonen is some middle six player…he’s been an excellent first line forward in usage by the Avs for a couple years now. Nuke is a flat out star. Both are absolute core pieces of the Avs franchise.
HM “not my team mention”…Verhaeghe. Yes, he’s basically a 40 goal, PPG regular season player but in the playoffs…he has 17 EVEN STRENGTH goals in the last 3 seasons (36 games). This leads the NHL by 3 over second place. He’s just remarkable and seemingly keeps getting better.
Briere was clutch, both with Buffalo and PhiladelphiaDaniel Briere and JP Pageau both seemed to elevate in the playoffs. Pageau not of late, but with the Sens? Oh yeah.
Not weird at all. When we signed him, all the talk was about how he is a guy you want on your team in the playoffs when things get tighter and that's exactly what he is.Weirdly enough, Barclay Goodrow.
He goes from Rattata to Raticade when the games matter.
Not surprised one bit. Habs fan hate on the guy but they will admit he was a good playoffs performer. He always played better in the playoffs than during the regular season.Kotkaniemi, and I'm not even joking. Regular season, he was a healthy scratch passenger. But this year and last year in the playoffs, he's been one of our more consistent performers. Hits heavy, gets involved in the forecheck and backcheck, get himself into some greasy areas to get surprising shots on net. Pretty much the exact kind of glue guy you want in the playoffs.
Kotkaniemi, and I'm not even joking. Regular season, he was a healthy scratch passenger. But this year and last year in the playoffs, he's been one of our more consistent performers. Hits heavy, gets involved in the forecheck and backcheck, get himself into some greasy areas to get surprising shots on net. Pretty much the exact kind of glue guy you want in the playoffs.
You mean Silas?Marner