It almost gets forgotten a bit, but the Colorado Avalanche are still really good. They have gotten hot again, going 8-2-0 in their last 10 games after entering the Olympic break not feeling quite like the juggernaut they once were.
There are still questions to be answered but the Avalanche are loaded for bear, ready to take on the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. They followed up a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers with a dominant, decisive win over the Seattle Kraken 5-1.
MacKinnon Continues Rolling
Nathan MacKinnon looked like he might be losing a bit of steam going into the Olympic break. Doubts about him have been emphatically put to rest. Aside from a pointless Oilers game, MacKinnon has had at least a point in every game coming out of the break.
In total, MacKinnon has points in seven of eight, totaling four goals and 15 points in that stretch. He had a goal and three assists against the Kraken, effortlessly controlling the game with the puck on his stick.
The race for the Art Ross is going to be one of the most interesting in years. Connor McDavid currently leads with 110 points, but MacKinnon closed the gap and is now second with 108. Nikita Kucherov is right there as well, sitting in third with 106 points. It has been fun to watch the three of them in action in any event.
The Playoff Starter is Clear
The Avalanche are a complete team and have two very good goaltenders. That said, it has become apparent with each passing game that Scott Wedgewood should be the Game 1 starter for the Avalanche.
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He was excellent again, turning aside 28 of 29 against the Kraken. He has also been the most consistent of the two goaltenders, having won all five of his starters since the break. Mackenzie Blackwood has been good but very up-and-down (four goals against in each of his last two starts).
The Avalanche should be good with either guy in net, but Wedgewood has more than earned the opportunity to start. He’s the guy that you can count on the most and will give the Avalanche the most confidence.
The Avalanche Can Pour it on at Will
The most fun time to watch the Avalanche is when they just impose their will on an opposing team. The Kraken aren’t a good team, but the Avalanche made things look simple, jumping out to a 3-0 lead with seemingly little effort.
Ryker Evans scored a shorthanded goal midway through the second period to give the home crowd life only to see Nazem Kadri snuff it out with his first goal since coming back to the Avalanche just under four minutes later.
The Avalanche have shown several times throughout the season that they can put multiple goals in the back of the net at a moment’s notice. Heading into the playoffs, that ability could mean burying an opponent before they have a chance to get started.
March 18 Looms
With all due respect to the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins, everyone is eagerly anticipating March 18. The Dallas Stars, the hottest team in the NHL, will come to Denver looking to close the as-of-now five-point gap.
As good as the Avalanche are, it is somewhat of a relief that they can avoid the Stars in the first round. They’ll likely have to deal with them down the line but at least they will have to go through a tough Minnesota Wild on the way.
