A few weeks ago, it was hard to find a place for Joel Kiviranta in the eventual Game 1 lineup for the Colorado Avalanche.
A few days into this opening-round series with the Winnipeg Jets, it’s hard to see Jared Bednar filling out one without him in it.
Kiviranta was probably going to be the 13th forward for the Avs, but a lower-body injury to Jonathan Drouin created an opportunity for him, and he’s taken full advantage. He’s fit seamlessly next to Ross Colton and Miles Wood on the club’s third line, and that trio has had back-to-back strong games together.
“I wouldn’t say he’s exceeded expectations, even though I love what he’s doing so far,” Bednar said. “But I’d say we were pretty confident he’d be able to go in there and do that job.”
The Avs knew all about Kiviranta’s ability to perform at this stage of the season before they invited him to training camp and eventually signed him a to one-year contract after a brief stint with the Eagles in the AHL. The most famous day of Kiviranta’s hockey life — a Game 7 hat trick for Dallas — came at Colorado’s expense during the 2020 playoffs.
They didn’t have a spot for Kiviranta at the beginning of the season, but certainly wanted to keep him in the organization as a depth player. He ended up playing 56 games during the regular season, but was again pushed out of the lineup after the Avs added three forwards while only trading one away at the trade deadline.
“It was a little weird start for sure,” Kiviranta said. “It’s not the easiest to keep the confidence up, but also there’s just no other way. You have to keep the confidence so when the call comes and you’re in the lineup. There’s no time to be building it or feeling sorry for yourself. It’s just keep your body and your mind ready.”
Bednar noted that Kiviranta earned high marks for his play when he was in the lineup during the stretch run, even if it was at irregular intervals. He credited Kiviranta for working with assistant coach Ray Bennett both on the ice and in the video room.
Through two games of this series against the Jets, it appears to be working. Kiviranta did play a few games with Wood and Colton during the regular season, but not many.
“Just try to be the best version of yourself and prepare to play hard and hopefully this helps because playing with (Wood) and (Colton), they are going flat-out all the time,” Kiviranta said. “I really like playing with those guys. They play with speed and a little bit of grit in their game. We all think the same and with pretty much how we want to play, it’s been fun.”
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Kiviranta has one point in the two games, but Wood has a pair of goals and Colton has two assists. The Avs have an 18-5 advantage in scoring chances when Kiviranta is on the ice at 5-on-5. That’s the best percentage (78.26%) on the team and fourth in the NHL among players with at least 10 minutes of ice time.
In his career, Kiviranta has six goals and 13 points in 38 playoff games. That’s nice production from a third/fourth-line player. It’s also a better per-82 game pace than each of his past three full regular seasons.
It is the type of resume that helps a depth guy earn the reputation as a “playoff player.”
“I don’t know,” Kiviranta said. “It’s fun to play these games. The crowd is crazy, and there’s focus on all the details. It’s just fun.”
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