DENVER (AP) 鈥� Logan O’Connor had already waited a year to score again. So what was one more period.
The Colorado Avalanche forward had his second-period goal waved off Sunday because of goaltender interference. He found the net again in the third during a in Game 1 of their first-round series.
鈥淪uper happy to get it out of the way,鈥� O鈥機onnor said.
It鈥檚 been a long, arduous road for O’Connor since he scored in Game 4 of a playoff series against Dallas on April 26. He underwent hip surgery in June that played a role in postponing his season debut until March 24. He skated in just 13 games in the regular season with two assists.
If there’s anyone who understands the long wait 鈥� and patience required 鈥� it’s Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. He missed three regular seasons before returning for Game 3 of that series against Dallas a year ago.
鈥淲e鈥檝e just kept telling him to save them 鈥� save them until we really need him,” Landeskog said. 鈥淭onight we needed it.鈥�
Early in the third, O’Connor took advantage of a breakdown in the Kings zone to swoop in, grab a loose puck and lift a shot over the glove of Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg. It gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead 鈥� a valuable insurance tally as the Kings would cut the deficit with 2:22 remaining.
After scoring, O’Connor lifted his stick in the air and then pumped his gloves in celebration. His teammates quickly mobbed him.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy for him,鈥� Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a long road to get back. … Being out of the lineup is the worst thing when you鈥檙e a player, because you鈥檙e just wanting to help, and you鈥檙e wanting to make an impact.鈥�
O鈥機onnor was limited to nearly 10 minutes and his only shot on goal was the one in which he scored. His presence was felt all over the ice.
鈥淗e鈥檚 kind of like that little water bug-energy guy and he鈥檚 used to playing in big moments,鈥� said goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who stopped 24 shots in his first career start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a big part of that room so his presence was missed. It鈥檚 fun to have him back in there chirping with the guys and just bringing that energy that he always brings on the ice.鈥�
Colorado nearly scored in the second period when O鈥機onnor lined a shot past Forsberg. But the officials signaled no goal. It was ruled Jack Drury made contact with Forsberg following a collision with Drew Doughty. The Avalanche challenged but the call stood.
鈥淥nce we challenged I was hoping we鈥檇 obviously get that one back,鈥� O鈥機onnor explained. 鈥淚 thought we did a good job just to stunt the momentum that could鈥檝e provided their team after we didn鈥檛 get that one.鈥�
It鈥檚 been a quite a stretch for O鈥機onnor, who saw his college team, the University of Denver, last weekend.
Now, this long-awaited goal. The capacity crowd erupted when he scored.
“It was just great for OC to see that go in,鈥� Drury said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 worked really hard to come back and I think he鈥檚 been really good the last few games. It鈥檚 great to see it go in for him.鈥�
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