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Colorado Avalanche: Top 10 Moments of 2015

By Nadia Archuleta |
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Dec 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate the overtime win against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate the overtime win against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Avalanche had an interesting year for 2015 as then eased toward their 20th season in the state. Discover the highlights of 2015.

We’re already one week into 2016, and it’s already been a pretty good year. We saw right wing Jarome Iginla score his 600th goal against the LA Kings. And we saw center Matt Duchene get named to the All Star team.

However, there’s still time to reflect back on the year 2015. It was an event-filled year that saw their 19th season end and their 20th begin. There were a lot of lows — defenseman Erik Johnson having his career season cut short with knee surgery, the Colorado Avalanche failing to make the playoffs, and the Ryan O’Reilly situation finally getting resolved with a trade.

There were definitely highs to the year as well. Without further adieu, let’s look at the top 10 moments of 2015.

Next: #10

#10: AHL Team Moves to Texas

The Colorado Avalanche have had a few American Hockey Leagues through the years, including the Albany River Rats, Lowell Lock Monsters and the Cornwall Aces. Colorado teamed up with the Hershey Bears for 10 years, before moving their affiliation to the Lake Erie Monsters in 2005.

At the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, the team announced that its new affiliation was with the San Antonio Rampage. Avalanche prospects such as Chris Bigras, Mason Geertsen and Duncan Siemens relocated to Texas.

San Antonio is a mite closer to Colorado than Lake Erie, which is just outside of Columbus.

Next: #9

#9: Pepsi Center Gets Ice Projection

At the beginning of the 2015-16 season, the Colorado Avalanche debuted the Pepsi Center’s new toy — the ice projection system that turns the ice into a giant 4-D screen:

The ice projection system is part of the NHL’s devotion to increasing the in-game experience for fans. The ice projection occurs because of multi-projector systems that turn the ice itself into a three-dimensional screen.

The high definition system operates not only for the opening show, but during the singing of the national anthems and during intermissions.

Next: #8

#8: Avalanche End Patrick Kane‘s Streak

Dec 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Thank you, Semyon Varlamov, for getting a shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks. Doing so on December 15, put an end to that ridiculous — sorry “epic” — points streak that Patrick Kane was on. That meant that the NHL could only talk about it for about one day more — essentially calling you a spoilsport for your 25-save shutout against one of the most offensively talented teams in the league.

The Colorado Avalanche often play well against the Chicago Blackhawks, Varlamov especially. Head coach Patrick Roy even talked about the kind of confidence a player gets when facing an opponent like that. The effort was a team one, though, as Patrick Kane didn’t even register a shot on net — though he did have several shot attempts.

Next: #7

#7: Reto Berra Gets Physical

Sep 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra (20) during the third period against the Calgary Flames during a preseason game at Pepsi Center. The Flames defeated the Avalanche 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra (20) during the third period against the Calgary Flames during a preseason game at Pepsi Center. The Flames defeated the Avalanche 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

In the December 9, game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, play got scrappy behind the net. Even though burly defensemen Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin were both on the ice at the time, they weren’t the catalysts. It was Reto Berra.

During the second period, Berra made a pretty routine play of leaving the puck behind the net for a teammate. Unfortunately, Penguins forward

Sergei Plotnikov

flew into the space first. The quick-thinking Berra channeled his best D-man and laid a clean body check that sent Plotnikov flying:

That’s a beauty of a check, one that Plotnikov won’t soon forget. However, it was also an interference penalty. Nonetheless, let’s take a moment to celebrate Berra’s cold-blooded reaction the the scrum he’s cause — calmly drinking from his water bottle.

Next: #6

#6: Patrick Roy and Matt Duchene Weather Storm

Nov 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Late October was scary in Avs Nation, and it had nothing to do with Halloween.

After all the hullaballoo of how badly the 2014-15 season went, this one was supposed to be Redemption Season. Yet the team started 3-8-1 in October. By the end of the month, accusations were flying, and rumors were starting.

The accusations were largely aimed at Patrick Roy, who supposedly wasn’t motivating his talented team enough. The rumors centered on Matt Duchene — specifically that he was being traded.

Well, Patrick Roy has ever had nerves of steel, and he calmly continued steering his ship in the same direction. He also took Duchene aside and showed him how’s he’s scored goals in the past. Duchene answered by going on an historic scoring run.

As you well know, Roy and Duchene are still very much a part of the Colorado Avalanche.

Next: #5

#5: Nathan MacKinnon Earns Two Hat Tricks

Dec 1, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) plays the puck along the boards during the first period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) plays the puck along the boards during the first period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon just looks like he’s having a tough calendar year. True, he’s had some scoring droughts, lost his landlord (Max Talbot trade) and missed the last part of the season due to a foot injury.

However, Nathan MacKinnon earned his first career hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Pepsi Center on February 22, 2015:

Ten months later he decided to try out hat tricks on the road, scoring one against the San Jose Sharks:

Something about warm locales and beaches must really heat MacKinnon up. Naturally, we’re all looking forward to more of the same.

Next: #4

#4: Erik Johnson Extended

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has suffered a lot of ups and downs in his short career. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has suffered a lot of ups and downs in his short career. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

After the rigmarole of the loss of Paul Stastny to free agency and the Ryan O’Reilly trade, I was a little worried about an Erik Johnson contract extension. At the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, Johnson was due to become an unrestricted free agent.

Now, Erik Johnson is a big, agile defenseman who plays all 200 feet of ice like it’s game 7 of the playoffs. In other words, he’s an extraordinarily valuable player — the cornerstone of the Avalanche’s defense, to be exact.

Well, on September 22, 2105, the Colorado Avalanche announced that the team had successfully negotiated a contract extension with Erik Johnson. The terms — seven years at $6 million per — are extremely favorable for both parties and keep Erik in burgundy and blue through the 2022-23 season.

Erik Johnson talks about his commitment to staying with the Colorado Avalanche:

The Colorado Avalanche are very fortunate to have Johnson for the next seven years.

Next: #3

#3: Matt Duchene’s Plays Historic November

Nov 23, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) celebrates his goal during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Colorado wins 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) celebrates his goal during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Colorado wins 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

Remember how I talked about Matt Duchene’s answering the trade rumors?

In October, Duchene collected just two points (1 goal, 1 assist). In November, he earned 11 goals and 9 assists. That scoring included six multi-point games — including three multi-goal games. He also registered three-point games three times — November 10 vs the Philadelphia Flyers, November 14 vs the Montreal Canadiens and November 28 vs the Winnipeg Jets.

Those statistics made him the third star of November for the entire NHL.

Those 11 goals beat Claude Lemieux, the previous holder of the goal-scoring title for November for Colorado. It was the first time since 2003 that an Avalanche player had scored 11 goals in a single month.

Next: #2

#2: Colorado Gives Heartwarming Finish to Disappointing Season

Apr 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate the win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate the win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Avalanche did not make the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season. Despite an excellent push after the new year, it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs. We all saw it coming, but the fact stung just the same.

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Right after the numbers made it official, the Avalanche lost 3-1 to the LA Kings for their last road game of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog  said the team would put on a fitting end to the season for the fans for the last three games, all of them at home.

Some fans thought the Avalanche would be better off tanking the last three games to improve their NHL draft standings. However, the players came out and were as good as their captain’s words. They beat the Nashville Predators — who led the Central Division — 3-2. They beat the Winnipeg Jets, also playoff-bound, 1-0 in the shootout — goalie Reto Berra recorded his first career shutout.

The Colorado Avalanche then beat the team that would eventually become the Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2.

Naturally, all of us wanted the Colorado Avalanche to make the playoffs, not just have a small winning streak at the end before cleaning out their lockers. Yet the players came out with poise and class in what some other teams call “meaningless games” and played for their fans.

Next: #1

#1: Colorado Avalanche Celebrates 20th Anniversary Team

Dec 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche alumni and current players are presented before the game against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche alumni and current players are presented before the game against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The top moment of 2015 happened near the end of the year — December 7, to be exact.

The game was a good one. The Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild at their own game. That’s right, the Avs played the cloggy trap with such success that even Wild forward Zach Parise remarked on how little flow the game had had.

However, the highlight of the night was the celebration of the Avalanche’s 20th anniversary team. The fans voted in the 20 players they wanted remembered from the first 20 years of the team.

The festivities featured a touch of elegance. All the Avalanche notables past and present went out onto the ice for us to appreciate their wonder once more. The greats were there, including Ray Bourque, Sandis Ozolinsh, Rob Blake and Peter Forsberg as well as Sakic and Roy. Also honored were current players, Erik Johnson, Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene, Alex Tanguay and Semyon Varlamov.

Twenty lucky fans got to receive the commemorative jerseys off their backs. Throughout the game, the media coordinators at the Pepsi Center played videos celebrating all the high points of the last 20 years — of course, the two Stanley Cups were the greatest highlights.

Next: Avs New Year's Resolutions

Well, Avs Nation, as I observed at the beginning of the post, the Colorado Avalanche is already off to a memorable year just one week in. Nonetheless, what were your top moments of 2015?

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