10 Takeaways: Martin Necas Has Another Big Game Against Dallas
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images In yet another matchup between former teammates turned rivals, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, it was Martin Necas who once again stepped up to have a big game. Necas has been a driving force of the Avalanche’s offense against Dallas this season. In four games between the two clubs, the goals were 11-9 in Colorado’s favor.
This doesn’t include the three shootout-deciding goals, as players don’t get credited for those. Ultimately, it was 9-9 entering Saturday, and Necas’ go-ahead goal was the only goal not scored on an empty-netter that separated the teams. Of those 11 Avalanche goals, Necas had points on nine of them.
That’s more of what the Avs need from No. 88, who is just six points away from hitting 100 for the first time in his career. The Avalanche needed Necas to take that step this year if they were going to offset the loss of Rantanen.
But they’ll need it to continue into the postseason, whether against Dallas or otherwise. This is one part of Necas’ game that hasn’t evolved yet. And one that he is well set up for this year.
When the Avalanche were ousted by the Dallas Stars in seven games last spring, it was largely because Rantanen got hot near the end of the series and scored a historic third-period hat trick to sink his former club. Necas was obviously the big piece Colorado had acquired in the initial trade with Carolina. He was a non-factor in Game 7 and for most of the series.
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