SEATTLE — A spoonful of his own medicine aided Erik Johnson on his way to the rink for the biggest game of the season.
First-time teammate Evan Rodrigues has noticed that the Avalanche’s longest-tenured player has a “general aura” of levity. “No matter what the situation is,” Rodrigues said, “he’s always giving the room a laugh or keeping us upbeat.”
So as Johnson strolled from the team bus into Climate Pledge Arena on Friday afternoon, backup goalie Pavel Francouz fittingly gave him an outrageous forecast that earned a toothless laugh from Johnson.
“You’re going to get a hat trick tonight,” Francouz told the 35-year-old defenseman.