hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
Avalanche Game 37 Recap: Ending 2023 in Style
2023 was quite the year for the Colorado Avalanche. When the calendar year began, the Avalanche were the reigning, defending, undisputed Stanley Cup Champions. It was a calendar year that saw Nathan MacKinnon pick up his very first 100-point season. It was a calendar year that saw Mikko Rantanen finish a 50+ goal season, and also rack up 100 points. Now, unfortunately, it was a year that saw the Avalanche's attempt at a repeat come to an abrupt end. But it would also be a year that the Avalanche would begin the process of dusting ourselves off, and try, try again.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
John Jay Gets in the Win Column with 12-3 Victory over Fox Lane
After losing their first two games, John Jay fell behind Fox Lane 1-0 on Tuesday December 5 and then went down two men on the power play. But the way the game begins doesn’t necessarily signify how it will end, according to Coach John McKeon. “It’s all about staying composed, getting your feet wet and getting adjusted to the game speed,” the first year coach said, and his sentiment definitely proved true.
By Rich Monetti2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 36 Recap: Bouncing Back
The Avalanche were coming off quite an embarrassing overtime loss; leading 4-0 but giving up five straight against the Arizona Coyotes. Ironically, the one point that Colorado received was enough for the good guys to take the Central Division lead, but still, this was a terrible loss. In addition, after being road warriors to start the season and winning those games outside of Ball Arena, the Avs were on a six-game road losing streak, with three of the losses coming in extra time.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 35 Recap: It Was 4-0
Well...at least we're back in first place. Yay? The NHL returned from their three-day holiday break with 14 games, and the Colorado Avalanche were no exception. The Avs were coming off a big 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes on December 23, and in this go-around, the Avs faced the Yotes again, this time in the desert. Mikko Rantanen was my Avs Twitter Psychic pick in the game, and for only the third time this season, I was correct. It was a power play goal late in the first, and it was Rantanen from Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The Avs led 1-0 after 20 minutes, and for MacKinnon, his points streak reached 19 games.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
The Airing of Grievances: NHL Edition
The day is here; a Festivus for the rest of us! Hardcore Seinfeld fans remember this very well. One of the episodes from the show's ninth and final season, "The Strike," revealed that Frank Costanza (played ever so brilliantly by the late, great Jerry Stiller) created Festivus as a response to the commercialism of the actual holidays. The holiday is celebrated on December 23, and instead of a tree, a pole is put up, as Frank finds tinsel distracting.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 33 Recap: The Nathan MacKinnon Show
I repeat: Put Nathan MacKinnon's name on the Hart Trophy already! Following the team's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Colorado Avalanche returned home for the holidays (well, close to it) for the first meeting against the Ottawa Senators. A little bit about the Sens; it's been hell for them at this point, and they just hired a new coach---well, sort of. Jacques Martin, who coach the Sens from 1996-2004, and coached them to the Eastern Conference Final in 2003, returned to the helm, with Sens legend Daniel Alfredsson as the assistant.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 32 Recap: Shenanigans
The Central Division race has been crazy in the last week or so. The top three in the division has changed a lot, and after the win over the San Jose Sharks, the Colorado Avalanche took the division's top spot and held it...for 24 hours. The Dallas Stars surpassed Colorado when they defeated the Seattle Kraken, leaving the Avs to try to get back on top once again. The Avs went on the road for Game #32; the Windy City, to be exact. It's always interesting when the Avs and the Chicago Blackhawks get together, and this season is no different, mainly because of Connor Bedard. The first meeting was the Avs' home opener, and it was a shutout win for Colorado.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 31 Recap: No Bigger Boat Needed
Entering the second leg of a back-to-back, the Colorado Avalanche found themselves in third place in the Central Division. It was a three way tie in points with the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars; both of whom had a game in hand over Colorado. Game 30 was a disaster, but Game 31 was a welcome opportunity to return to the top of the Central. The Avs faced off against the San Jose Sharks, the second of three meetings this season. The first meeting was Colorado's second game of the season, a 2-1 win via shootout. However, a lot has happened in the last two months. This is a different Sharks team. While they're still not in a good position, they are playing with a lot of "give a damn" and it's led them to nine wins in the 20 games they've played since their horrendous 0-10-1 start.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Underdog's Triumph
The sun hung low over the picturesque hills of Kentucky, casting long shadows across the rolling landscape. In a quiet corner of this idyllic countryside, a small and weathered garage echoed with the clinks and clatters of tools, the heartbeat of a dream in the making. This was the unlikely birthplace of an underdog team destined to challenge the giants of the Formula 1 world.
By Ayomide2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 30 Recap: Rough Night in Winnipeg
So quite a bit happened regarding the Colorado Avalanche following the team's five game homestand. The team traded Tomas Tatar to the Seattle Kraken, receiving a 5th-round pick in return. The Avs acquired Tatar during the offseason from the New Jersey Devils, but his start to this season has not been a good one. Tatar, usually a 20-goal-per-season player, only put one puck in the net this season. The assists were there, but the goals weren't. Tatar's only goal with the Avs came in the 6-5 comeback win over the Calgary Flames; it was actually the Avs' first goal of the game.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 29 Recap: Welcome Home
The Colorado Avalanche's five-game homestand concluded with the second and last meeting of the season against the Buffalo Sabres. The first game was a close 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, but it was followed by two-goal losses to the Winnipeg Jets and the Philadelphia Flyers. It looked like the homestand would be a failure when the Avs fell behind by two goals late against the Calgary Flames, but Colorado scored three in the final eight and a half minutes to win it. Right now, the Avs needed to win this one to salvage the homestand.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
Avalanche Game 27 Recap: Trouble at Ball Arena
The Colorado Avalanche's home loss to the Winnipeg Jets left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. To me, the game was lost when the Jets scored that goal with 2.2 seconds left in the first period, because that took away whatever momentum the Avs had--hell, Winnipeg actually scored to start the second period. Even so, these are the Avalanche, and this team usually bounces back from losses like this. Plus, this was the third game of the Avs' five-game homestand, and home cooking is always good for teams.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Unbalanced
