DENVER (AP) — Logan O’Connor had been waiting for a long time to score again. So, one more period was nothing compared to the wait he had already endured.
The Colorado Avalanche forward had his second-period goal waved off on Sunday due to goaltender interference. However, he finally found the net in the third period during a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first-round series.
“Super happy to get it out of the way,” O’Connor said after the game.
Since his last goal in Game 4 of a playoff series against Dallas on April 26, O’Connor’s journey has been anything but smooth. He underwent hip surgery in June, which delayed his season debut until March 24. In the regular season, he played just 13 games and recorded two assists.
If there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to wait and have patience, it’s Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. He missed three full regular seasons due to a knee injury before making his return for Game 3 of that same series against Dallas a year ago.
“We’ve just kept telling him to save them — save them until we really need him,” Landeskog said. “Tonight we needed it.”
O’Connor made the most of his moment in the third period. He capitalized on a breakdown in the Kings’ zone, scooped up a loose puck, and fired a shot over the glove of Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg. This goal gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead, a crucial insurance marker as the Kings would eventually cut the deficit with 2:22 remaining.
After scoring, O’Connor raised his stick in the air and pumped his gloves in celebration. His teammates quickly surrounded him in a jubilant celebration.
“I’m really happy for him,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “That’s a long road to get back. … Being out of the lineup is the worst thing when you’re a player, because you’re just wanting to help, and you’re wanting to make an impact.”
O’Connor was limited to nearly 10 minutes of ice time, and his only shot on goal was the one that resulted in the game-winner. Despite that, his presence was felt throughout the game.
“He’s kind of like that little water bug-energy guy and he’s used to playing in big moments,” said goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who stopped 24 shots in his first career start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “He’s a big part of that room so his presence was missed. It’s fun to have him back in there chirping with the guys and just bringing that energy that he always brings on the ice.”
Colorado nearly extended its lead in the second period when O’Connor took a shot that appeared to beat Forsberg. However, the officials ruled it no goal, citing Jack Drury making contact with the goaltender following a collision with Drew Doughty. The Avalanche challenged the call, but it stood.
“Once we challenged I was hoping we’d obviously get that one back,” O’Connor explained. “I thought we did a good job just to stunt the momentum that could’ve provided their team after we didn’t get that one.”
It’s been quite a stretch for O’Connor, who recently saw his college team, the University of Denver, win its 11th NCAA title 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,” Drury said. “He’s worked really hard to come back and I think he’s been really good the last few games. It’s great to see it go in for him.”
