The biggest reason the Avalanche came from behind to win in Vegas? Jared’s two Sams. Sam Girard and Sam Malinski might be a little short by NHL defensemen standards, but they’re not short on talent. They’re a unique third pair when compared to the rest of the league, but as coach Jared Bedn ar has said multiple times, “They bring things other pairs don’t bring.” When Colorado’s other two defensive pairs struggled a bit in Vegas, Malinski and Girard stepped up, combining for five points. With those two on the ice, the Avalanche outshot the Golden Knights 14 to 0 and finished with an expected goals-for percentage of 96.67%. No, neither of those stats are typos. That’s just how good they were. “Especially in the third period,” Bednar said after the win. “Some of the possessions they had (they were) managing the puck perfectly. They both were willing to shoot it, making plays. They did a nice job on the defensive side the whole game, but in the third period, they really helped us out on the offensive side of it.” For Girard, it’s likely been a frustrating season. He missed most of training camp due to a lower-body injury, and then after finally getting healthy, he lasted only two games into the regular season before an upper-body injury kept him out for another month. Things are finally starting to pick up for him, though, as he now has eight points in his last seven games. “Someone asked me how I evaluate his season, but his season is just getting going. That’s the truth,” Bednar said of Girard last week. “You’re hitting a part of the season where everyone’s up and running at full-go and you’re playing catch-up. That takes a little bit of time.” Girard has always been a trusted player by this coaching staff, but the emergence of Malinski this season has been something special to watch. The 27-year old defenseman has already surpassed his career high total in points and is currently on pace to register over 40 on the season, an impressive total considering he doesn’t play on the power play. He still ranks near the top of the league for defensemen in possession and expected goals-for percentage. And he’s doing a lot to impress the best player on the team. “Malinski has been so good this season,” Nathan MacKinnon said after the win in Vegas. “I feel like he’s getting better every week. For him, I think it’s just confidence. He can do a lot of things in this league that a lot of players can’t, so he just needs to know he can do it.” When someone like MacKinnon showers you with praise, it doesn’t go unnoticed. “It means a ton,” Malinski said. “He’s one of our captains and a guy I’ve looked up to for a long time, so it means a lot for him to say that.” Malinski, whose face was a bit swollen after the game due to a hit he took in the third period, was feeling pretty good about his defensive pair on Saturday night. “Some games, it just feels like it flows really well,” he said. “Pucks are popping out to good spots and we’re supporting each other well. Sammy skates so well that it makes it easy on me a lot of the time.” It remains to be seen whether or not the Avalanche feel comfortable heading into the postseason with a smaller third pair, but as we’ve recently, they can be the difference between a road loss and a come-from-behind shootout win. You can’t really say that about any other third pairs around the league. ...read more read less