Matt Duchene agrees with his coach. His goal celebration the other night was a bit over the top.
“We talked, we had a good chat [Monday],” Duchene said today, per NHL.com. “It’s one of those things that I totally understand where he’s coming from and what he’s trying to do. I’m on board with it, and I think we all are. It’s one of those things that right away, I knew that was not the right thing. It wasn’t the right reaction. I kind of buried my head after that, even going back to the bench because I understood it just wasn’t the right thing. We had a good talk, and it’s all good.”
Duchene drew the ire of Patrick Roy on Sunday when he enthusiastically celebrated his 30th goal of the season, despite the fact the Avalanche were well on their way to losing to St. Louis, a loss that all but guaranteed that Colorado would miss the playoffs again.
“The thing I have a bit of a hard time is the reaction of Dutchy after he scored,” said Roy. “It’s a 4-0 goal. Big cheer…are you kidding me? What is that?”
Roy then went on to question the leadership of his core players. Naturally, that led to speculation that Duchene could be traded, or, conversely, that Roy could be fired.
Today, however, Roy was full of praise for Duchene.
“I think Matt Duchene is a great person, and I think when you’re willing to learn, like I was when I was young, I think that goes a long way,” he said, per the Denver Post. “That does not mean becoming a leader comes overnight. Experience makes you a better leader. I made many mistakes. I got slapped in the fingers by vets in my first years.”
The Avs’ postseason hopes could officially be dashed tonight. The Wild will clinch the final playoff berth in the Western Conference if they defeat the Sharks in any fashion; or, if the Wild get one point against the Sharks and the Avs lose to the Predators in any fashion; or, if the Avs lose to the Preds in regulation.