Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Scores game-winning OT goal
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Girard scored the game-winning goal in Monday's 3-2 overtime win over the Predators.
Girard couldn't have chosen a better time to score his first goal of the season, as he took advantage of a breakaway to drill home the game-winning goal midway through OT. Girard has been productive of late, notching four points in his last four appearances. With nine points through 16 games, he's on pace to surpass his career high of 37 points in 76 games from 2022-23.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Bags apple in win
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Girard notched an assist in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Hurricanes.
Girard was credited with the secondary helper on Sam Malinski's tally in the second period. The helper was Girard's second in the last three games, a span in which he's added six shots on net, six blocked shots and a plus-1 rating. The 26-year-old is up to seven assists, 13 shots, 26 blocks, 12 hits and an even plus-minus rating through 15 contests overall.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Produces assist
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Girard logged an assist, two shots on goal, two PIM and a plus-3 rating in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Kraken.
Girard helped out on Chris Wagner's first-period tally to open the scoring. The 26-year-old Girard hasn't found much consistency on offense this season -- he's gotten on the scoresheet in just four of 13 games, totaling six assists. He's added nine shots on net, 12 hits, 21 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating. The blueliner continues to fill a top-four role, but he's a low-end option for fantasy managers.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Adds two assists
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Girard notched two assists and went plus-2 in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Senators.
Girard has three helpers over his last four contests. The 26-year-old defenseman is being deployed as usual in a second-pairing role with a little power-play time, but he isn't finding much consistency. He has five assists, three shots on goal, seven hits, 15 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over nine games this season.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Manages helper in win
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Girard posted an assist, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
Girard was the latest defenseman to get a look alongside Cale Makar on the top pairing, and it was on Makar's empty-netter that Girard earned his third point of the season. All three of them have been assists, as Girard has struggled to get involved in the offense. He's added just two shots on net with five hits, 11 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating across six appearances. He's worth a look in deeper formats as long as Devon Toews (lower body) is out.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Earns 200th career point
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Girard logged two assists in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Golden Knights.
Girard's first helper was the 200th point of his career, a milestone he reached in his 476th game. The 26-year-old blueliner is locked into a top-four role for the Avalanche, though he'll also be limited to the second power-play unit. He's topped the 30-point mark four times in his career, but he was held to 18 points in 59 regular-season outings in 2023-24 after a stint in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Girard has reached the 70-game mark in just four of his first seven seasons, so fantasy managers should expect him to sit out with injuries on occasion.
Girard logged an assist in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Stars in Game 5.
Girard helped out on Casey Mittelstadt's go-ahead goal early in the third period. The helper was Girard's third in eight playoff appearances, and he hasn't scored a goal this postseason. The defenseman has added a modest eight shots on net, 20 blocked shots, 10 hits and a plus-4 rating while skating in a second-pairing role since he recovered from a concussion that cost him four contests in mid-April.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Nabs helper in postseason debut
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Girard recorded an assist, two hits and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 6-2 win over the Jets in Game 3.
Girard missed four games with a concussion, but he returned with 21:05 of ice time in Friday's contest. He also snapped the 10-game point drought that led into his absence, assisting on a Ross Colton tally in the third period. Caleb Jones was scratched to make way for Girard, who should hold down a top-four role going forward.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Good to go Friday
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Girard (concussion) will return to the lineup for Game 3 against Winnipeg on Friday, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Girard will return after missing the last four games. The 25-year-old was held without a point over his final 10 appearances in the regular season. He tallied three goals and 18 points in 59 games during the regular season.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Might be available for Friday
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Girard (concussion) could return for Game 3 versus the Jets on Friday, per Adrian Hernandez of Mile High Hockey on Wednesday.
Girard has missed the Avalanche's last four contests due to the concussion. He had three goals, 18 points, 73 shots, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 59 regular-season outings. If Girard returns for Game 3, then Caleb Jones might be a healthy scratch.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Not playing Tuesday
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Girard (concussion) won't play in Game 2 versus the Jets on Tuesday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Girard was deemed close to returning at the beginning of the playoffs, but he'll miss his fourth straight contest Tuesday. His next chance to draw into the lineup is Game 3 in Colorado on Friday. Once cleared to play, Girard will likely occupy a bottom-four role.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: To be reevaluated Tuesday
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Girard (concussion) skated in the lead-up to Tuesday's Game 2 matchup with Winnipeg, John Lu of TSN reports.
Head coach Jared Bednar didn't rule Girard out for Game 2, which would be his first action since April 13 versus the Jets. Considering the blueliner is pointless in his last 10 outings, few fantasy managers will be anxiously awaiting his return to the lineup. If Girard is cleared to play, he'll likely take the place of Jack Johnson or Caleb Jones.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Out Sunday
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Girard (concussion) will not play in Game 1 against Winnipeg on Sunday, Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Girard was considered a game-time call but ultimately wasn't healthy enough to get back in the lineup. He's now missed three straight games but could return in time for Game 2 on Tuesday. Girard finished the regular season with three goals and 18 points in 59 contests.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Could play Sunday
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Girard (concussion) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's Game 1 against Winnipeg, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Girard missed Colorado's final two regular-season games after suffering a concussion in a loss to the Jets on April 13. The 25-year-old's return would certainly help bolster the Avs' blue line -- Girard had three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocked shots across 59 games this year.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: In concussion protocol
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Girard has been placed in concussion protocol after being injured in Saturday's matchup against Winnipeg, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Girard isn't likely to appear in the Avalanche's final two regular-season contests. If that ends up being the case, he will conclude the campaign with three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 59 outings. His status for the playoffs is unclear, but in the meantime, Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup Sunday versus Vegas.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Sustains upper-body injury
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Girard suffered an upper-body injury and won't return to Saturday's game against Winnipeg.
Girard entered the contest with three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 58 appearances this campaign. If he's unable to play Sunday versus Vegas, Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Set to play Thursday
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Girard (illness) is expected to play Thursday versus the Rangers, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Girard was considered questionable as of Wednesday, but he's apparently healthy enough to go. He has three helpers over 11 contests in March while playing in a top-four role.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Battling illness
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Girard is dealing with an illness, according to Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com, so he's questionable for Thursday's contest versus the Rangers.
Girard has three goals, 18 points, 68 hits and 92 blocks in 51 outings in 2023-24. If the 25-year-old can't play Thursday, then Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup for the first time since March 13.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Logs helper Friday
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Girard produced an assist, three shots on goal and three hits in Friday's 6-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Girard has a helper in each of the last two games following a five-game slump. The 25-year-old defenseman hasn't really picked up the slack since Bowen Byram was traded to the Sabres -- Sean Walker has shown a bit more promise. Girard is at 18 points, 65 shots on net, 65 hits, 89 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 49 appearances on the year. While his offense is lackluster, he should continue to see top-four minutes.
