Avs Mailbag: Who will benefit most from time off before NHL playoffs?

Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions in the Avs Mailbag every other week during the regular season.  Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag. As we approach the possibility of continuing the NHL season, I’d love to see some analysis of which teams benefited the most from this extended
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Avalanche’s Martin Kaut relishes first NHL goal in win against Sabres: “That goal was for my mom”

Avalanche forward Martin Kaut crouched on one knee, sent a flurry of fist pumps and received a bath from captain Gabe Landeskog in the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night. It was an celebration worthy of Kaut’s first NHL goal. And, wait, it becomes better. “My mother was still here,” Kaut told reporters in the Avs
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Czech Republic natives, J.T. Compher, lead the Avalanche to 3-2 win over Buffalo Sabres

Czech, please. Czech Republic natives Martin Kaut and Pavel Francouz had yet another memorable night Wednesday in the Avalanche’s 3-2 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres at the Pepsi Center. Kaut, a newcomer forward, scored his first career goal, also Francouz, a goalie in his first full NHL season, closed the door with 13 third-period saves.
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Nathan MacKinnon reaches milestone as Avalanche defeats Islanders 3-1

In winning trend Wednesday night, Nathan MacKinnon attained a Hall of Fame-backed milestone with his 50th point of the season, becoming just the third Avalanche participant to produce 50 points in 3 consecutive seasons. Merely club legends Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg had done this before, together using Sakic (1998-2002) and Forsberg (1995-99) — both
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Avalanche’s Martin Kaut on NHL debut: “Dream come true for me”

Martin Kaut was one of the last two Avalanche players to step off the ice Wednesday to conclude that a morning skate in the Pepsi Center. He wanted to soak in each second to prepare for his NHL debut that would occur Wednesday night against the New York Islanders. Kaut, 20, is Colorado’s 2018 draft
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Chambers: Avalanche has dumped “trial by fire” with forwards, aiming high with veteran depth over young prospects

Logan O’Connor played five games for the Avalanche last season in a time he could have been a senior and team captain at the University of Denver. The right-shot, slick-skating forwards opted to forgo his last year of NCAA eligibility to sign a max NHL free-agent entry-level contract with expectations of enjoying hockey’s maximal level.
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Tyson Jost, the Avalanche’s 2016 first-round draft pick, sees the bright side of AHL demotion

LOVELAND — Avalanche ahead Tyson Jost said Wednesday he’s taken his demotion to the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles “with a grain of salt” and certainly will return to the NHL club following week a much better player. Jost, who played 43 games with the Avs prior to being reassigned for their new AHL affiliate
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What’s wrong with the Avalanche? Joe Sakic says it’s not coaching. “We can turn this thing around”

Less than 15 minutes later meeting with reporters Tuesday night in the Pepsi Center, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic witnessed a prime example of why his team entered its game against the Columbus Blue Jackets having won an NHL-low five games since Dec. 7. Exercising from the puck — the term for playing defense in
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Czech Republic Olympian Pavel Francouz makes his NHL preseason debut with the Colorado Avalanche

Czech Republic-born goalie Pavel Francouz, That played the last 3 seasons for Chelyabinsk Traktor of This Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League, will make his NHL preseason debut Monday night Once the Avalanche plays with the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Francouz, 28, will start in net. The 2018 Olympian served as backup and didn’t perform
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