They are an odd trio, the Avalanche’s second line.
Respected and feared, they are not. Effective and underrated, they are.
Colorado’s game day line chart says they’re the third line, but make no mistake, center Carl Soderberg and wingers Matt Nieto and Blake Comeau have entrenched themselves as a surprising rock-solid second line. They have regular shifts at even-strength — meaning they aren’t passed over — and they are primary penalty killers. Soderberg often plays on the power play, and he logged 20:13 in Thursday’s 5-3 win over San Jose, most among Avs forwards.