San Jose Sharks overtake the Colorado Avalanche in Alex Newhook’s NHL debut | Sports coverage

The game, if not the result, was unforgettable for Alex Newhook.

The 20-year-old forward made his NHL debut for the Colorado Avalanche on the second row on Wednesday. He played 1:20 pm on a line with Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky and was plus one.

His team fell 3-2 after losing a two-goal lead in San Jose.

Newhook signed with the Avalanche after his sophomore season at Boston College before scoring five goals, four assists in his first eight professional games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

He joined the Avalanche on a street sweep of five games.

The first days of the trip were spent watching movies. Newhook learned that he would make his first appearance in an Avalanche sweater early Wednesday.

Newhook said friends and family in his native Newfoundland would stay up late to see the game on the west coast.

“You kind of dream about this day. I’ve dreamed about it all my life, ”said Newhook.

“So far it has been great. I try to absorb everything. “

It started out promising. After a goalless first third, Tyson Jost coralized a Patrik Nemeth rebound and switched to his backhand in one smooth movement and covered the puck.

Shortly before the Avalanche’s 2-0 lead, Philipp Grubauer (30 saves) stopped at Noah Gregor from close range.

Conor Timmins shook off the puck and the avalanche raced the other way. Kadri prepared Burakovsky, who scored in his third game in a row.

The sharks gave the Avalanche food for thought during the period break and took advantage of the poor coverage. Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane started alone and Hertl scored in the second third, 13 seconds behind. Hertl later tied the game.

“It was just a minor glitch here and there and they honestly took advantage of it,” said defense attorney Jacob MacDonald.

“We left it hanging around a little too long and it came back to bite us.”

The Avalanche were defeated 10: 1 in the third period when Erik Karlsson scored a goal in a power play in front of Grubauer, who had thrown his stick behind the net.

Newhook’s first NHL shot on goal was a wrist shot from the face-off circle.

Josef Korenar (30 parades) took it in hand.

Newhook got 1:13 power play time and won 44 percent of his faceoffs.

“I thought it was pretty good. Competitive, played some smart puck games … had no sales, ”Bednar said.

“I thought that line was pretty good.”

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