It's the Wood That Makes it Good

After a very successful and dominant homestand, the Colorado Avalanche hit the road for back-to-back games within the Central Division. First up, the Nashville Predators--first meeting of the season between the two clubs. I'm still amazed over the Preds winning in signing players last year. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault joining the team? To go with Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg? I immediately had the Preds being a strong force that the Avs had to deal with... and then last year happened.

While our start last year was bad, the Preds were worse. They could not dig themselves out of the holes they were in, and from what we've been seeing this year, it's getting worse for Nashville. Regarding this game, Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Juuse Saros, and in just 15 seconds, the Avs were up 1-0. This was the fifth time this season that we scored in the first minute of the game, holy moley! So who scored this goal? Of all people, it was Brent Burns who put it in. Even crazier than that: the goal ended up being the game-winner. Preds couldn't get anything, even after getting the extra attacker on late in regulation. We did, though. Nathan MacKinnon with an empty netter, and Jack Drury had one of his own.

All that was left to do was count down the final seconds before it happened, and there it was: Mackenzie Blackwood got his first shutout of the season, after missing the first month of the year, and it was a big one. He stopped all 35 of Nashville's shots, all of Nashville's big scoring threats. Shut down. Eight straight wins for the Avs, but we were not done.

The next day was a special one, it was Gabriel Landeskog's birthday. Our Captain turned 33 that Sunday, and for the first time in four years, he was spending his birthday as an active player. In this game, we were in the Windy City against the Chicago Blackhawks. I had already had a pretty good sports weekend. We shutout the Preds, and in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers dominated the Minnesota Vikings (business as usual). Scott Wedgewood was in net against Spencer Knight, and the first period was nuts. We were getting badly outshot, but miraculously, it was scoreless after 20 minutes. Avs took over the 2nd period and managed to take the shots lead. That's not the only lead we took. Very late in the frame, Cale Makar got one past Knight, and after 40 minutes, it was 1-0 for the good guys. Third period was back and forth, but the score was holding up. I didn't think there was any way we'd get another shutout, right?

Right?

We did it, folks! Not only did we sweep the back-to-back on the road, both wins were shutouts! Remember when goaltending wasn't a thing with the Avs? Even though these are our first shutout wins of the season, the goaltending has been spectacular this year. Blackwood blanks the Preds, and then just under 24 hours later, Wedgewood blanks Bedard and Company. Grnated, the Preds are still collapsing, but the Blackhawks are kinda on the rise this year. Avs have won nine straight, and the only problems we have are on the power play and overtime. And it's early! If we solve those issues by the Olympic break... oh man, the possibilities!

Next up, the Avs will spend the day before Thanksgiving back at home against the Sharks, and we plan to increase our winning streak to ten games!

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