Avalanche Coach Demands Improvement From Second Line After Game Two

DENVER — Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar expressed the need for improvement from his second line after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday night.

When asked what he needed to see from that line, which consists of center Brock Nelson, left winger Jonathan Drouin, and right winger Valeri Nichushkin, Bednar replied, “I need to see more.” This line has yet to find its rhythm in the first two postseason games.

Nelson, a forward who played his first 12 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, is undergoing an adjustment period after being traded to the Avalanche on March 6. In his 19 regular-season games with Colorado, he scored six goals and registered 13 points.

“I think it’s been a slow build,” Bednar said of Nelson’s adaptation to the team. “His game is getting better as the season has gone on,” Bednar added while emphasizing the need for better chemistry with his new linemates.

Despite being under pressure to perform, Nelson remains optimistic. “I think he’s too intelligent and too talented not to find his game,” one NHL scout stated during Game 2.

For Nelson, the transition has been a whirlwind, both on and off the ice. “The first week was probably tough — just a lot of emotions,” he said, explaining how hard it was to leave the community he had built over years in New York. He noted that his family is still in New York, which adds to the challenge.

His wife, Karley Sylvester, has been a critical support during this transition. “She’s keeping everyone in line,” he said.

Nelson noted that he is excited to be part of a team considered a contender for the Stanley Cup. “That’s the exciting part about coming to a contender and really having the belief that we’re capable of going all the way,” he said.

Bednar and his team are hoping for more from Nelson as the playoffs progress. “What we need is a little more offense from him,” Bednar said.

As the series continues, Nelson remains focused on contributing positively to the team. “That’s first and foremost the one objective right now, and after that, everything else will sort itself out,” he added.