The REAL Great Eight

The Colorado Avalanche's four game road trip was quite interesting, to say the least. The trip started in NYC, with games against the Islanders and Rangers. The Isles were first, and they did something no one else had done all season: they took it to the Avalanche. The Avs were soundly defeated, 6-3, the first time we lost by more than one goal, and our second regulation loss all season. As the saying goes, it's how you respond to these fallbacks that makes the difference, and we responded with a clutch overtime win at MSG.

So the Avs left NYC with a 1-1 split. Not bad at all. But the road trip wasn't done yet. In actuality, the visit to MSG was the first of back-to-back games for the Avs, and here's how the rest of the swing ended:

As those of you know, this Avalanche fan is also a Packers fan, and as I was anxiously anticipating and preparing for the Bears/Packers contest (well, following it online; that game wasn't on for me out here), I had my eye on the Avs' trip to Philadelphia to face the Flyers. Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Samuel Ersson, but the Flyers struck first. Sean Couturier (who deserves a lot of credit for his dedication to the Flyers) made it 1-0 barely over two minutes in. Six minutes later, Brent Burns tied it up, from Martin Necas and Jack Drury--a trio of ex-Hurricanes banding together. Avs received a late power play, and we actually scored in it! In the final minute, Brock Nelson, who has been on a roll lately, made it 2-1 for the Avs, with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar assisting. The Avalanche with a PPG; proving that miracles do happen on Sundays.

Avs led 2-1 after 20 minutes, and it was 3-1 very early in the 2nd period; Valeri Nichushkin with the tally. Travis Konecny made it 3-2, and that was the score after 40 minutes, and in the third, the Flyers had a shot at tying it. A penalty shot opportunity for Trevor Zegras (I still can't believe the Ducks let him go), but Blackwood stopped it and the score held up. A 3-2 win for the Avs in Philly, second straight win following getting blasted in LI, a good performance for the boys!

The road trip concluded two nights later in Nashville, and on TNT as well. The Avs faced the lowly Nashville Predators for the second time this year, and it was Scott Wedgewood in net against Juuse Saros. Avs struck first and early, and it was Brock Nelson again. Shortly afterwards, Preds received a power play, and it was Jonathan Marchessault (because of course it was) who tied it up. Barely over a minute later, Reid Schaefer gave Nashville the lead, but later on, Artturi Lehkonen tied it up. It was 2-2 and that was the score after just one period.

The second period saw no goals, but three failed power plays from the Avs. In the third, Brady Skjei gave Nashville the lead in the second half of the period, and with under two minutes left, Wedgewood was pulled for the extra attacker. 6-on-5 became 6-on-4 after a Preds penalty, and with eight seconds left in regulation, Makar shoots it right in after getting the pass from Necas! Best defenseman in the league and it's not even close! Overtime is forced, and the shootout, which sees only one goal scored, and it belonged to Nashville.

Another big accomplishment for Nate the Great: he's the first to reach 50 points this season. As for overall, a 2-1-1 road trip, which includes yet another post-regulation defeat. We have such a weird record. We've lost nine games this year, but seven of them are post-regulation (OT/SO). 49 points in the standings this year (21-2-7), still good enough to serve as the best record in the league. And we had back-to-back games with a PP goal, so that's progress. We just need to keep improving our PP, and we need to get those wins in OT/SO.

The Avs are back at home for a pair of games, beginning on Thursday against the back-to-back defending champions, the Florida Panthers, followed by hosting the Nashville Predators on Saturday. After that, the Avs head to Seattle to face the Kraken on Tuesday on TNT.

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