Kosmachuk makes first mark of his NHL career

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This article was published 12/03/2016 (3494 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The celebration of the Winnipeg Jets’ third-period goal told quite a story Saturday night.

After Adam Lowry connected for his fifth goal of the year, thanks to a third-period two-on-one — and it turned out to be the decisive goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the 3-2 win — the line of Lowry, Scott Kosmachuk and Chris Thorburn came together in a group hug.

Not only did it put the Jets in front for the first time on the evening, it was Kosmachuk’s first NHL point in his third NHL game.

“We were pretty excited,” Lowry said beaming. “I think I held him in the air for a few seconds. That’s always exciting. I still remember my first point. The feeling and stuff. And that was an unbelievable pass. I’m real happy for him.”

Kosmachuk put across a flat, convertible pass at nine minutes one second of the third period after stealing the puck from the Avs in the neutral zone to create the odd-man rush.

“I really, really liked his game,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “He’s showing an element of speed that is impressive.

“It’s quickness, it’s good plays. He’s finding his way through the neutral zone, defensively. There are some big adjustments but really happy with his pace to the game. I think he has the hands… and a nose around the net.”

Kosmachuk is in the Jets lineup because Joel Armia went down with an injury last week.

The third-round pick of the 2012 NHL draft has a history of offence on his resumé — scoring 49 goals in his last year of junior — and started to show Saturday his ability to make plays.

“Every game, I get more comfortable and shake some of the nerves off,” Kosmachuk said. “They’re still there. I’m going to make a couple of mistakes here and there but it’s a learning curve and I’m looking to build off it.

“The systems, once you get those down, things are going to start to come together. The support’s there, it’s the NHL, and the speed, once you adjust you just have it in yourself to make the plays and be confident,” he said.

“My personal play, I’ve been trying to play in all three zones so to make a good defensive play and to turn it over on offence, that was awesome.”

Kosmachuk had a breakaway chance to make it 4-2 but was foiled by Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov.

“That was a great pass from (Thorburn) and I blew past that D man and I think I got a little excited,” Kosmachuk said. “I should have held it for a second longer and put it up but the goalie made a great save.”

In the second period, trying to be the shooter after a two-on-one pass, the puck hopped over his stick as he charged the Colorado net. When he knocked Varlamov over, he was called for interference.

The Avs scored on the ensuing power play.

“No, (nobody said anything) but I know I shouldn’t be taking penalties,” Kosmachuk said. “I was driving the net on the two-on-one and it was an innocent thing, but it happened and it cost us a goal.”

It all turned out well, including the winning-goal celebration.

 “I think the reaction on Lowry’s face got me more excited than anything,” Kosmachuk said. “The crowd definitely played a part in that.

“Lows and Thorbs there, they’re both big boys. So I jumped right up and he caught me and I was hanging there for a few seconds. It was awesome.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca