CALGARY - The shackles have been taken off Parker Kelly. It's time for him to run wild and free.
For three-quarters of the season, the 25-year-old forward was asked to play center, something he hadn't done yet at the NHL level. Not only did they ask him to re-learn a position he hadn't played at the highest possible level, but they asked a lot of him, using him as the third-line center for most of the season.
Until recently, that is.
With the additions of Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and Jack Drury, Kelly has shifted back to wing. He found himself playing there (and thriving) again in the 4-2 win against the Flames, a game in which he scored two goals. In the three games he's played since moving back to wing, he's been able to play looser and a heck of a lot more physical.
The fans have noticed, his coach has noticed, and yes, even he can too.
"Playing center ... not limited me, but you're more of an F-3 coming into a forecheck," Kelly told The Denver Gazette. "I love playing center, but on the wing, youre slashing, you're usually F-1 on the forecheck and free to wheel around a little bit more. (I've) been able to use my speed a little bit and kind of get back the physicality of my game."
On the forecheck, you've got your three forwards: F-1, F-2, and F-3. F-1 is the first guy in there (usually, but not always a winger) who puts the pressure on the opposing defender and has the best opportunity to throw a big hit. F-2 comes in and supports F-1 to create any turnovers and potentially get the offense started. The F-3, which Kelly found himself in more often than not as a center, is also there for support but has to play it smart and sit back a little bit just in case the opposition starts to the head the other way with the puck.
Back at wing, Kelly is going to have the opportunity to throw his body around a bit more, something Avalanche fans haven't been able to see a ton of as he was learning how to be a center in the NHL.
"It reminds me a little of Colton," Avs coach Jared Bednar said. "Part of those two guys' game and part of their strengths coming here is they're really good forecheckers. Physical, can get into people, they're putting heat on the defense all the time. ... You don't get to be F-1 or F-2 as much on the forecheck when you're playing center and I think it's part of their strength."
"We're going to see a different style from Parker Kelly on the wing than we did at center," Bednar said.
And that style is controlled chaos. Against the Wild and Maple Leafs, Kelly and his fourth line were tremendous. Kelly didn't get to play against the Chicago Blackhawks, as he was a healthy scratch. With 14 forwards on the roster now, that might happen more often down the stretch as Bednar tries to keep everyone involved.
Kelly playing a key role on the penalty kill gives him a leg up on the competition to stay in the lineup, a competition that simply hasn't existed much this season due to injuries.
"It's good to have some healthy competition," Kelly said. "We're a really deep forward group now. It's kind of 'next man up' mentality. You're not thinking too much about it. You just want to, when you're in, do your job and keep doing the things you're doing well."
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And Kelly doing his job well is why the Alberta native was in the lineup again on Friday, in front of many of his friends and family that traveled to Calgary. He was nice enough to gift them with a few pucks pre-game and then a few big goals for their troubles.
Avalanche 4, Flames 2
What happened: Colorado's depth got the job done as the stars had an off night.
What went right: For most of the season Ross Colton could not buy an assist. Now he's creating goals left and right. Colton set up Lindgren's first goal in an Avalanche uniform and then made a great play on Parker Kelly's second goal, stopping Dustin Wolf's clearing attempt. He has nine points in his last eight games.
What went wrong: Colorado's top players really were not good. It got so bad that coach Bednar had to switch up the top six halfway through the game to see if they could get anything going. It didn't change much. Not only did they not create much offense, but they turned the puck over a lot more than they usually do, especially in the neutral zone.
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson left the game with an upper-body injury. Bednar did not have an update on him after the game and said they'd see how he feels Sunday morning prior to the game against the Stars.
Avalanche goal scorers: Lindgren (3), Kelly (6,7), Nichushkin (16)
Flames goal scorers: Coleman (13), Huberdeau (25)
Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood had very little to do for 30 minutes but really came up big late as the Flames started to push. He finished with 22 saves but only faced three shots in the first half of the game.
"It kind of reminded me of watching Marty Brodeur growing up," Wedgewood joked after the game.
What's next: The Avalanche will meet old friend Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
