The Colorado Avalanche still have a chance at the playoffs. Here are four reasons for fans to be optimistic.
The Colorado Avalanche are still in the playoff hunt. Unfortunately, after a baffling mediocre performance from Jonathan Quick and the rest of the LA Kings, the Minnesota Wild took over the final playoff berth. However, for once, glory of glories, Colorado has a game in hand.
We have some tough knocks to overcome. Both of the Avalanche’s leading scorers, Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, are out with knee injuries. According to head coach Patrick Roy, they’ll miss at least the next two games. Defenseman Eric Gelinas is also out with an injury, to his elbow. He’ll be out indefinitely.
That said, it’s not time to hang up the season yet. Colorado won two games without captain Gabriel Landeskog, who was out with a suspension. One of those wins came without Duchene as well. Additionally, Colorado beat the Edmonton Oilers without Duchene or MacKinnon in the lineup.
In other words, the Avalanche have won with exactly this lineup that they have now.
It’s not going to be easy to make the playoffs. However, let’s look at why we, Avs Nation, should be optimistic.
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