Kaut Records Another Milestone with First NHL Goal

Martin Kaut's first week in the National Hockey League has been full of milestones.
After making his debut on Feb. 19 against the New York Islanders, he earned his first point in the league with an assist at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday in the Colorado Avalanche's 3-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres.
"I'm enjoying every game, every minute on the ice," said Kaut. "I don't know if I am playing next game or not, so I am just playing hard and we will see what is going to happen tomorrow."
Kaut's marker gave Colorado a 2-1 lead in the second period and came after he picked up a rebound in the slot while the Avs had a scoring chance during a man advantage.

"It was awesome for him and big goal for us," said J.T. Compher. "That second unit doesn't get a whole lot of time on the power play, and for them to take advantage was huge for us tonight."
After the tally, Kaut was greeted on the bench with a shower of water from captain Gabriel Landeskog, an Avalanche tradition for big goals and one that caught the rookie off guard.
"I was surprised, like I don't know what is it, like Landy probably?" Kaut said after.
Kaut is playing in his second professional season in North America after he was selected by Colorado in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2018 draft. He has played in 94 American Hockey League games with the Colorado Eagles since crossing the Atlantic at the start of the 2018-19 season, and those games have helped prepare him for the NHL.
"It is a dream of mine. I am so happy for this moment," Kaut said of his tally. "It was my dream to score first NHL goal and I got it, so I am so happy."
With his goal, Kaut became the 12th Czech Republic-born player to score in franchise history. The right wing, who was playing in his fourth career game.

Although the work will continue for Kaut to keep progressing in his development to become a better player and keep reaching more milestones, he will take a little bit of time to enjoy each of these moments along the way. This one came with a special family member in attendance at Pepsi Center.
"My mom was here, so that goal is for my mom. We'll celebrate tonight probably, just a little bit," said Kaut.

200 GAMES FOR JOSTY

Tyson Jost recorded an assist in his 200th career NHL game, improving his career scoring total to 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists).
"He works his tail off every day," J.T. Compher said of his former roommate Jost. "It doesn't matter where he is in the lineup, whether he is playing power play or penalty kill. He comes with a great attitude and obviously happy for him to get to 200 with many more coming."
Jost was selected in the first round (No. 10 overall) by the Avalanche at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo and is the 10th player from his draft class to reach the mark.
It appeared as if he had scored his sixth goal of the year after he found the back of the net 2:38 into the third period, but the goal was waved off due to a high stick. However, regardless of his production offensively, the resolve he has been playing with has got the attention of head coach Jared Bednar.
"I have really liked his play here the last little bit. I love the determination and the grit in his game, it reminds me of last year's stretch run and down in the playoffs and what he was able to do for us," Bednar said of Jost. "We are starting to see more and more of that in his game, tonight was really good. Of course, his luck, [Nikita Zadorov] shoots the one from the point, it is just a little high and he deflects it and goes in the net and its high-sticked. That is just something he is going through, but if he keeps playing like that, he is going to be part of helping us produce offense as well, so I liked his game."

SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE

In addition to Kaut's power-play tally, Gabriel Landeskog also found the back of the net while on the man advantage.
Colorado finished 2-for-3 on the power play, scoring multiple man-advantage goals in a game for the first time since Jan. 2 (3-for-5). The team also went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, the sixth straight game the team has not allowed a goal while shorthanded.

"The big story for me of the game was the special-teams win," said Bednar. "Power play goes 2-for-3, PK was good and gave up nothing. Kudos to [assistant coaches Ray Bennett and Nolan Pratt], I thought they did a good job of getting our guys ready and our guys did a nice job in both those special teams to get us the win."

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

The contest marked Colorado's ninth annual Military Appreciation Night. Before the game, Leila Morrison, a 97-year-old World War II frontline nurse, tossed the ceremonial puck.

Head coach Jared Bednar showed his recognition and gratitude for those that serve by wearing a camouflage suit jacket for the game.
"It is the only camo blazer that I have," said Bednar. "It is actually a friend of mine, his friend started a company called Perfect Pattern and sent it to me and asked if I'd wear it for military night, and I said absolutely… I thought for tonight, it was just my way of showing some appreciation for the military"
The Avs improved to 7-2-0 on Military Appreciation Night with the win.

MORE AVALANCHE NOTES

The Avs are 6-0-2 in Wednesday games this season.
The Avalanche won its fourth straight game and is now 12-3-1 in its last 16 outings. The team has collected points in 15 of its last 18 contests.
Colorado is now 9-3-1 in February, tied for the second-most wins in the NHL in the month and tied for the third-most wins in February in franchise history (also: Feb. 1996).
Nathan MacKinnon recorded an assist and now has 299 career helpers, surpassing Paul Stastny to take sole possession of ninth place in franchise history and fifth in Avalanche history. MacKinnon is just one-point shy of tying Alex Tanguay (488) for seventh in franchise history and fourth in Colorado history.
Pavel Francouz is 4-0-1 over his last five games with a 1.56 goals-against average and .941 save percentage over that span. His 2.26 goals-against average this season ranks fifth in the NHL, while his .927 save percentage is tied for third (Pittsburgh's Tristan Jarry).
J.T. Compher registered his second game-winning goal of the season, both of which have come in the last three games (also Feb. 21 at Anaheim). He also tallied an assist for his sixth multi-point game of the season.