Top 5 Avalanche Defensemen Moments from 2014-15

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Mar 23, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman

Zach Redmond

(22) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche defensemen had some noteworthy moves during the 2014-15 season. Defensemen tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to highlight reels. Sure, they occasionally make it with a big hit or fight, but their play in general tends to be like the bassist in a rock band — essential, but not center stage.

That’s not to say Avalanche defensemen can’t be the center of attention. Tyson Barrie has certainly wowed the crowd on more than one occasion. And we’ll never forget how Erik Johnson saved Game 1 in the 2014 playoffs:

The majority of these Colorado Avalanche defensemen moments from the 2014-15 season may not be the stuff of highlights. However, they’re all examples of how the Colorado blueliners helped the team. Whether it was a goal, a point or a world-recognized honor, these five moments shined for the Colorado Avalanche defense.

Tyson Barrie Earns 50th Point

Apr 3, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Emerson Etern (16) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) reach for the puck in the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For having so much trouble scoring in the 2014-15 season, and missing the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche had a unique situation. They were the only team in the NHL with six players who had 50+ points.

Offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie was one of those players, and the only defenseman. He finished with 53 points.

Barrie earned his 50th point during the feel-good victory against the Anaheim Ducks at the beginning of April. Barrie earned an assists on a power play goal by captain Gabriel Landeskog.

With that point, Tyson Barrie joined another exclusive club. Only three other Colorado Avalanche defensemen have earned 50+ points in a season — Sandis Ozolinsh, Ray Bourque and Rob Blake.

Next: Zach Redmond

Zach Redmond Called to IIHF Worlds

Erik Johnson’s Multi-Goal Night

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson scores twice against the St. Louis Blues. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche started out so slow at the beginning of the season. Even their top scorers were having difficulties getting goals.

That made defenseman Erik Johnson’s emergence as an offensive threat all the more welcome. Maybe it’s a little easier for a defenseman to score goals when they’re going in for everybody. Not so easy to score goals when they’re not even going in for your snipers.

During the mid-December game against the St. Louis Blues — Johnson’s former team, incidentally — EJ scored two goals.

Johnson got the scoring started late in the first on the power play. Left wing Gabriel Landeskog, who was not scoring goals at the time, did what he could — he checked a Blues skater into the boards. The puck squirted out right to Johnson. EJ would up and unleashed his bomb of a shot. St. Louis goalie Jake Allen never had a chance.

Johnson wasn’t done with his former team, though. Early on in the second he did it again — only this time it was an even-strength goal.

The Avalanche were down by one with EJ’s power play goal the only score. Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon picked up the puck in the neutral zone and drove into the Blues zone. He cut it and passed the puck to Johnson.

This was no slapshot. This time he drove toward the net, threaded the needle between Avs and Blues players, and beat Allen again:

This game marked the first time in Erik Johnson’s career that he’d had a multi-goal night.

Brad Stuart Accidentally Scores on Corey Crawford

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart made a simple little play that resulted in a flukey goal. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

While we’re on the subject of defensemen scoring goals, remember that time Brad Stuart accidentally scored on Corey Crawford?

All season long the mantra for the Colorado Avalanche was to put pucks on net. Brad Stuart is a veteran. He knows throwing the puck toward the goal is good practice. After all, you never know what might happen.

In this case, what happened was a player who would go on to backstop his team to a third Stanley Cup would fumble the puck. To be fair, the puck took a funny bounce just before it reached Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.

However, the goal occurred because Stuart dumped the puck into the zone right toward the net:

My favorite part about this goal is that Brad Stuart has already turned away. He’s going off for a line change — he really wasn’t trying to score a goal!

Next: Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson Named All Star

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is an integral player for the team. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the brevity of his season — only 47 games — defenseman Erik Johnson was having a career year. In those games he scored 12 goals, a career high for him. He had a total 23 points — his career-best was 39, which he achieved twice.

What’s impressive about those numbers is that Erik Johnson earned them while the rest of the team was struggling so hard. Starting at the end of December, the Colorado Avalanche started to turn their season around. However, Johnson would only play three weeks of that before knee surgery took him out for the remainder of the year.

Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy was unrestrained in his praise for Johnson. He had already been calling EJ the team’s best player — not defenseman, best player. As the All Star voting drew close, Roy suggested quite strongly that Erik Johnson should represent the Avalanche.

That’s exactly what happened. In early January the NHL announced EJ had been selected for the All Star team. This was especially an honor because defensemen spots on the All Star roster are limited, meaning Johnson had to beat out many skilled defensemen across the league.

That same knee surgery kept Johnson from joining the festivities. Nonetheless, Johnson was deeply honored, and he turned the thanks around right away:

“It’s a reflection of a lot of great teammates that I have and great coaches who helped me get to where I’m at right now.”

So, Avs Nation, last day of August here, and let’s call this the last day of off-season coverage as well. From here on out, we’ll look forward to the upcoming season.

That said, our blue line is much maligned. Yet Avalanche defensemen had some great moments during the 2014-15 season. What was your favorite?

Next: EJ's Season in Iron Maiden Songs

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