The Colorado Avalanche have been on a roll lately, leaving them with virtually nothing to play for on Tuesday night in the second-to-final game of the season against the Calgary Flames. The President’s Trophy has long since been locked up and nothing remained but pride.
Apparently, pride was all that was necessary. The Avalanche seemed to be on autopilot at times but still managed to find a way to dispatch the lowly Flames for their 54th win of the season, a 3-1 victory on the road.
Nate Wins the Rocket
Though there is a school of thought about resting before the playoffs, that just isn’t what Nathan MacKinnon is about. Besides, he had personal hardware to win and managed to do just that by securing the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goalscorer.
He scored the empty net goal to seal the deal against the Flames, his 53rd of the season, but didn’t need even that. Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens was held without a goal in their season finale, giving MacKinnon the title.
It’s incredible to think that at one point in time, there was talk about him not living up to his potential. With this award, he now has won virtually every accolade possible: Calder Memorial Trophy, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and now the Rocket Richard. What a career he’s had and he’s right in his prime.
A Strong Outing From Blackwood
Head coach Jared Bednar hinted that the Avalanche may still use both goalies in the playoffs, so getting a strong performance out of Mackenzie Blackwood here brought a level of reassurance to that potential decision.
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Blackwood turned aside 30 of 31 Flames shots, the lone blemish a nifty little deflection from Blake Coleman. Blackwood otherwise looked calm, cool, and collected as he turned the Flames aside again and again, especially with the Avalanche up 2-1 late.
Though Scott Wedgewood will more than likely be the Game 1 starter, it was nice to see Blackwood have such a strong performance. Knowing that they have two reliable upper-echelon starters is just one of the many things that separates the Avalanche from everyone else.
Return of the Mak(ar)
Aside from MacKinnon sealing the Rocket Richard Trophy, the biggest story from this game was the return of Cale Makar to the lineup. Makar had missed several games due to injury, though there was never any real doubt about his status for the playoffs.
He returned on Tuesday and looked like he never missed a beat. Makar registered assists on all three Avalanche goals, the first a particularly impressive move where he bounced the puck off the boards, chased it down, and threaded a laser to Artturi Lehkonen in front.
It goes without saying but the Avalanche feel dangerous every second Makar is on the ice. Without him, there is a noticeable piece of the puzzle missing. Having him back just in time for the playoffs is huge for the Avalanche and their Cup hopes.
What a Season
It really can’t be talked about enough how great this season one. Even with a step back to start the new year, the Avalanche racked up 119 points (possibly 121 when it’s all over). They have the league’s leading goalscorer, a pair of 100-point players, the potential Norris Trophy winner, a potential Vezina Trophy finalist, six 20-goal scorers, and seven players with 40 points or more.
This team is ridiculously deep across the board. There will be no excuses and no understanding if they fall short this postseason. The regular season has been an all-timer for the Avalanche, but it is just the beginning.
