Cruising the Atlantic Division

The Colorado Avalanche's long seven-game homestand started well, but ended very rocky (no pun intended). We dominated our first two games, but the next five were very messy. The Avs lost four of our last five games in the homestand, but again, because a loss isn't a loss in regular season hockey, it's actually a 1-2-2 stretch in our last five games, which is only one game under "NHL .500" in that time. That's how fortunate and spoiled we are this year; even our lulls aren't truly lulls.

The homestand was followed by a four game road trip for the Avs, with all four games against the Atlantic Division. Here's what occurred during the trip:

The REAL Captain America

The Avs' road trip began in Toronto against the Maple Leafs; the second and last meeting off the season between the clubs. It was the Leafs who snapped our 17-game home winning streak with that OT victory earlier in the month, and this meeting took place on what was set to be a big day for Denver sports: Sunday, January 23--Championship Sunday. Because hours after the puck dropped for the Avs, the Denver Broncos kicked off the AFC Championship at home.

The Broncos came up short, but the Avs did not. Brock Nelson led the way, picking up a Hat Trick, beginning with a pair of first period goals scored within a minute and a half of each other. The Hat Trick goal came in the 3rd, with the only other Avs goal coming in the 2nd period and coming from Jack Drury. Unfortunately, we could not get the shutout, as Max Domi just had to put it in with 62 seconds left in regulation. So close, but still, a 4-1 win is just as good.

Canadian Capital Punishment

The Avs left Toronto and headed to Canada's Capital for a Wednedsay meeting with the Leafs' little brother, the Ottawa Senators. Another season series that came to a close, this is a rematch of the first game of the Avs' homestand, with the Avs winning that first meeting thanks to a six-goal 2nd period. Clearly, the Sens replayed that period on a loop and took that personally. Scoreless first period, but Nick Cousins opened things up in the 2nd period. Parker Kelly tied it up, but just as we were set to drink that in, Ridly Greig gave Ottawa their lead back just seconds later. Nuts.

In the third, Claude Giroux made it 3-1, but Valeri Nichushkin kept us in it. We couldn't tie it back up. Sens had a pair of empty netters from the usual suspects: Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. Avs lost 5-2 in a game where nothing was called on Ottawa despite them committing infractions that were so painfully obvious.

Tabernac

The next day, the Avs put on our classic Quebec Nordiques throwback as we faced off against our old big brother, the Montreal Canadiens. Les Habitants struck first; Noah Dobson just 36 seconds into the game. We did tie it up, and it was Brock Nelson, who will represent the US in the Olympics this year! The 1-1 score was broken up just over a minute later, as Nick Suzuki scored on the Habs power play. And Suzuki just loved scoring on power plays so much that he decided to score on ours. Yeah. We had a PP right after, but Suzuki broke away and put it in. The ninth shortie we've given up this year--that leads the league. Oh boy.

We were down 3-1 before the period was half over. The score held up after 20 and while we had chances, we couldn't do squat. Habs could, though. Jake Evans and Kirby Dach scored 40 seconds apart in the 2nd period, making it 5-1. That was it. Joel Kiviranta put one in, but still 5-2 after 40 minutes is just too much. Avs went on to lose 7-3, our second set of back-t0-back regulation losses this season.

How Do You Like Your Wings?

The road trip concluded in Detroit on Saturday--Royal Rumble Saturday. The Avalanche facing the Red Wings on ABC. High school me jumped for joy over this! Back when these two were among the top teams in the league, Avs/Wings was on ESPN and ABC a lot during the regular season. We entered this game needing something big. Boy, did we get it! Brent Burns, born nine days before I was, opened the scoring, and later in the period, it was--guess who?!--Nathan MacKinnon!! Mack gets his 39th goal and reaches 90 points already!

Avs led 2-0 after a first period we needed. In the middle frame, Ross Colton put one in for the first time in forever, and later on, Big Mack struck again! 40th of the season, first to 40 goals this year, and he got there before the calendar turned to February! This game was over, this time in a good way! Avs added one more in the 3rd, and this time, we did get the shutout! A 5-0 big win in Detroit!

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There it is, folks! First to 40 goals this year. 91 points this season. We only have two games left before the Olympic Break, which will see MacKinnon proudly represent Canada. On Monday, we host those same Red Wings that we fried, dyed, and laid to the side, and on Wednesday, we host the San Jose Sharks. The road trip was a decent one, 2-2 in the four games. We ended January a bit on the bumpy side but we are still strong and still look like we have a great chance to win our fourth Stanley Cup.

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