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A couple of notes from the game yesterday. We shall update Mitchell's status as we learn more about it.
Roy, in his first game coaching in the city where he played for 11-plus seasons, received a loud ovation from the crowd when his face was shown on the scoreboard during the American national anthem. ... Avalanche F John Mitchell was taken to the hospital by ambulance to have X-rays on his back after crashing hard into the boards during the second period. ...
Loving the fact that people are humping on the MacKinnon bandwagon. Why? Because you get to hear little gold snippets like this.
Colorado has tried hard to ease its prize rookie recruit into the rigours of NHL life this season. One of the veterans brought in to help raise him right and help happens to be one of his favourite Pittsburgh Penguins players as a kid.
That would be winger Maxime Talbot, whom he saw on childhood idol Sidney Crosby’s day in Coal Harbour with the Stanley Cup in the summer of 2009.
“I think I was 12 or 13 at the time, so it was a pretty big deal for me. I was there, I was cheering, saw Max and Sid on a fire truck. I always tell Max I’m his number one fan,” MacKinnon joked after a team practice.
“Obviously I loved Sid as a kid and the Penguins in general. Max was one of my favourite players. Not any more, [now] that he’s my teammate. It’s nice that what I envisioned of him as a kid is what he is.”
Could I love anymore than I already do? I don't think so...
It simply didn't go Roy's way on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean he didn't appreciate the effort of his banged up team.
"Listen, [Ryan] O'Reilly hurt himself last game, but he wanted to play," Roy said. "[Paul] Stastny came back [from an injury]. I knew what they were doing. I've been in this league long enough. I have a lot of respect for my players and I appreciate what these guys have done.
"But I didn't want them to feel to pressure to win this one for their coach. I wanted them to win it for our hockey team. It's all about our team. I didn't want to put myself in front of the team and it was important for me to let them know. I'm already proud of them and I'm already happy to be part of this partnership with them. I didn't need a special night."