The last time that Charlie McAvoy lit the lamp, the Red Sox were still battling the Houston Astros in the ALCS.
Now, a pair of freak injuries — a foot infection and prolonged concussion — have played a part in that drought for the 21-year-old defenseman, but it could be easy for those taking a quick glance at the stat sheet to label McAvoy’s second full NHL campaign as a bit of a disappointment so far.
After notching 32 points (in just 63 games) and averaging over 22 minutes a night in his rookie season, McAvoy entered Saturday’s matinee against the Kings with just one goal and 11 assists over 27 games played — averaging less average TOI (21:34) and 5v5 Corsi For Percentage since last year (53.03, down from 55.69), while also getting tagged for 23 5v5 goals against in 503 minutes of ice time.
(For reference, McAvoy was out on the ice for 36 5v5 goals allowed in 1,145 minutes last season.)
The numbers aren’t dreadful, by any means, especially for a defenseman. But given the high expectations placed upon Boston’s top-pairing blueliner of the future, perhaps the 2018-19 season can be labeled as a bit of a setback.
Just don’t tell that to McAvoy.
Sure, the offensive production hasn’t quite been there and injuries have forced him to play catch-up, but the defenseman hasn’t been lacking in confidence as of late.
“I think as far as playing goes I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been playing,” McAvoy said following Boston’s 5-4 overtime win against the Kings. “I think my breakouts are good, I think defensively I’ve been playing well, been playing steady. Trying to just do the best I can for this team, obviously you want points to come but if I’m playing bad and getting points I would take the vice versa any day. I’d take playing well and playing steady any day for this team, being relied on and being trusted, and without the points obviously, you want both.”
McAvoy enjoyed the best of both facets of his game Saturday, tallying his first goal since Oct. 13 and adding a helper in what has been the latest in a string of solid performances from the defenseman.
Along with logging 23:35 of TOI against L.A., McAvoy played a key role in helping a reshuffled B’s forward corps maintain puck possession – as Boston held a 21-7 edge in attempts and an 18-3 cushion in shots on goal during the 20:12 of 5v5 ice time that McAvoy skated in.
Over his last six games, McAvoy appears to be settling into a groove, averaging over 23:30 of TOI a night to go along with two points and a plus-5 rating.
For Bruce Cassidy, the biggest change in McAvoy over the last two weeks has come in his approach in the offensive zone. Even during cold stretches offensively, McAvoy can still function as a one-man breakout, but the BU product has left a bit to be desired when the puck is in the opponent’s zone.
Cassidy has harped on the need for more offense to come from the blue line, whether it be low-to-high plays or picking better spots to fire home shots through traffic – by extension, creating rebounds and more Grade-A opportunities for Boston’s forwards down by the crease.
McAvoy tends to look for his teammates when he has the puck on his stick, but his hesitancy when it comes to taking attempts when the opportunities present themselves has been a bit of an issue that has carried over from his rookie season.
After finishing 14th on the B’s with just 77 shots on goal in 2017-18, McAvoy only had 16 shots find their way to the net through his first 19 games this season. Since then, however, McAvoy has started to make the most of his chances — firing home 21 shots in his last nine outings.
Knowing when to make his move in the o-zone goes beyond his shot attempts — with his willingness to jump up into the play culminating in a tap-in goal just two feet out of the crease on Saturday. Some of McAvoy’s decisions when it comes to activating have led to defensive breakdowns and opposing odd-man rushes at times this season, but showing the proper judgment during those situations is simply an area of the game that should continue to improve with added reps for the talented D-man.
“With Charlie, it’s a little bit more about when to go and when not to and to shoot the puck,” Cassidy said. “Now, he didn’t have to shoot his goal very far, about two feet, but I thought there were some other decisions he made that were good. On the Heinen goal, he could’ve shot originally but if you look at it that lane was clogged pretty good. He made a good decision to get around and then get it to the net. So, I liked his activity, when to go.”
Great no-look pass by Patrice Bergeron sets up Charlie McAvoy's second goal of the season.
Great work by Danton Heinen leading up to the goal. pic.twitter.com/1lgfFyTDbH
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 9, 2019