Avalanche's Sam Malinski: First multi-pointer since Jan. 2024
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Malinski picked up two assists in a 7-4 win over Toronto on Saturday.
It was Malinski's first multi-point game of the season, and his first since Jan. 16, 2024. He won't help you on the offensive side of the ledger -- he has just two goals and seven assists in 60 games this season. However, Malinski does know how to get in front of pucks. He has 86 blocks this year, including 18 in his last nine contests.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Springs breakaway
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Malinski notched an assist, two hits, four blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Flames.
Malinski ended a 15-game point drought with the helper. The 26-year-old went minus-2 with 13 shots on net, 20 hits and 17 blocked shots in that span. He's struggled to put together steady performances for large portions of 2024-25. The blueliner has just six points to go with 71 shots on net, 42 hits, 76 blocks and a plus-1 rating over 53 appearances. Malinski has a little short-term security in the lineup as long as Josh Manson (lower body) is out, but he'll be competing with Oliver Kylington, Keaton Middleton and Calvin de Haan once the Avalanche's defense corps is back to full health.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Snaps slump with assist
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Malinski registered an assist in Friday's 4-1 win over Utah.
Malinski sparked the play leading to Artturi Lehkonen's opening goal at 11:52 of the second period. The helper ended a 21-game slump for Malinski, who has maintained a bottom-four role despite the lack of offense in that span. For the season, he's at five points, 57 shots on net, 55 blocked shots, 20 hits and a plus-1 rating over 37 appearances. The return of Josh Manson (upper body) will likely cost Malinski minutes, but John Ludvig doesn't appear to be much of a threat to his spot in the lineup.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Stuck in drought
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Malinski was held off the scoresheet for the 17th game in a row Saturday in a 5-2 win over the Predators.
Malinski has moved up the depth chart in that time due to the injury absences of Josh Manson (upper body) and Oliver Kylington (upper body). Still, the larger role isn't leading to more offense. Malinski has four points, 45 shots on net, 50 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through 32 appearances, down from the 10 points he put up over 23 regular-season outings last year.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Scores in Saturday's win
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Malinski scored a goal, blocked two shots and added two PIM in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Hurricanes.
Malinski snapped a four-game point drought with his first goal of the campaign. The 26-year-old defenseman has held onto a third-pairing role all season, and the Avalanche's lone change on the blue line Saturday was to bring in John Ludvig for Calvin de Haan, which suggests Malinski has some job security. Overall, Malinski has four points, 19 shots on net, 16 blocked shots, eight hits and a minus-2 rating over 15 appearances.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Adds assist in loss
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Malinski notched an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
This was Malinski's third helper in the last four games, which is all of his offense this season. The 26-year-old is doing well to maintain a spot on the third pairing, though it's come with only sporadic power-play time and limited minutes overall. Malinski is averaging 15:26 of ice time while supplying 13 shots on net, 11 blocked shots, six hits and a plus-1 rating across 10 appearances.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Generates assist Tuesday
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Malinski logged an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Kraken.
The helper was Malinski's first point of the season, but it's been his steady play on the third pairing that's kept him in the lineup. The Avalanche have often rotated Calvin de Haan, Oliver Kylington or John Ludvig out of the lineup, while Malinski has played in all seven games. Malinski has 10 shots on net, six blocked shots, three hits and a minus-1 rating while averaging 15:44 of ice time per contest.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Recalled Monday
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Malinski was promoted from AHL Colorado on Monday, per CapFriendly.
Malinski scored 10 points in 23 games with the Avalanche this season but hasn't made an NHL appearance since Feb. 6. He'll provide the team with some extra depth this postseason.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Reassigned to minors
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Malinski was demoted to AHL Colorado on Friday.
Malinski has 10 points through 22 NHL games this season, including three over his last four appearances. He was demoted to make room for Zach Parise, who signed with the Avalanche on Friday.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Scores on power play
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Malinski scored a power-play goal and had an even-strength assist in Tuesday's 7-4 win over Ottawa. He added two shots, one block and one hit to his line over 17:17 of ice time.
Malinski set up Colorado's second goal with a stretch pass that resulted in Jason Polin's first NHL tally. Malinski then potted the game-winner one second before the Avalanche's man-advantage ended. His wrist shot eluded Mads Sogaard, who lost his stick on the play. The two-point effort was Malinski's second and gave the 25-year-old blueliner eight points through 19 games. He should stick around until Bowen Byram (lower body) is ready to play. Byram was given a seven-to-14 day timeline back on Jan 7.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Lights lamp Monday
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Malinski scored a goal and blocked two shots in Monday's 4-3 shootout win over the Bruins.
Malinski was called up with Josh Manson (undisclosed) questionable going into the game, and the former got into the lineup when the latter couldn't play. The goal was Malinski's second of the season, snapping a four-game point drought from before he was sent down at the end of December. The 25-year-old has added four assists, 16 shots on net, 17 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 15 appearances. He'll likely continue to bounce between levels, but he's clearly the Avalanche's top call-up option when they need blue-line help.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Generates helper
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Malinski logged a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
Malinski helped out on Valeri Nichushkin's second goal of the game. With Cale Makar (lower body) sidelined by a lingering lower-body issue, Malinski has worked his way into a role on the second power-play unit. The 25-year-old is up to five points, 11 shots on net, 15 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating through 10 contests overall, so it appears Malinski could stick in the NHL for a bit.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Picks up second helper
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Malinski recorded an assist in Monday's 6-5 win over the Flames.
Malinski posted his second helper over the last three games. The 25-year-old has seemingly leaped over Caleb Jones on the depth chart, though Malinski has seen less than 15 minutes of ice time in each of his last three outings. He's added six shots on net, seven blocked shots and a plus-1 rating through six appearances this season.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Sent back down
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Malinski was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Wednesday.
Samuel Girard (undisclosed) is good to go for Wednesday's game versus the Ducks, so Malinski was no longer needed on the active roster. Malinski made his NHL debut Monday versus the Kraken, posting one shot on goal, one hit and a plus-1 rating in 12:02 of ice time.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Called up Wednesday
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Malinski was elevated from AHL Colorado on Wednesday.
Malinski rejoins the Avalanche ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Ducks, a move that likely indicates both Samuel Girard (undisclosed) and Josh Manson (undisclosed) won't be ready to play. In his NHL season debut Monday, the 25-year-old Malinski registered one shot, one hit and a plus-1 rating in 12:02 of ice time.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Sent back to AHL
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Malinski was reassigned to the minors Tuesday.
Malinski played just 12:02 of ice time versus the Kraken on Monday. If either Samuel Girard (undisclosed) or Josh Manson (undisclosed) are available to play in Wednesday's matchup with Anaheim, Malinski will likely remain with AHL Colorado. Still, the 25-year-old Malinski should remain atop the shortlist of potential call-ups following his six points in 13 minor-league contests.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Promoted from AHL
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Malinski was recalled from AHL Colorado on Sunday.
Malinski signed an entry-level deal last season after a three-year career at Cornell University. The 25-year-old blueliner has three goals and six points in 13 AHL games this season.
