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Colorado Avalanche: Best Moments of 2018

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - APRIL 16: Members of the Colorado Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) following a win after a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 16: Members of the Colorado Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) following a win after a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Mark Barberio #44 and Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Bourque #57 celebrate with teammate Colorado Avalanche right wing Sven Andrighetto #10 after Andrighetto scored the game winning goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne #35 in the third period of game 5 of round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena April 20, 2018. The Avalanche won 2-1. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Guts All Over the Place

The Colorado Avalanche made the playoffs last season. They went from the butt of the league with 48 points — worst in the salary cap era — to making the playoffs. What’s more, they didn’t get swept or lose in five games.

Little old Colorado, who made it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, took the Nashville Predators, the Presidents’ Trophy winners, to six games. They even won one game on the road.

In the process of winning that game, we ended up with one of the seminal moments of Avalanche current lore.

It was Game 5, and as I mentioned the game was in the Bridgestone Arena. The Avs had already taken the Preds by surprise in winning one at home. However, that was to be expected, right? Colorado could win one at Pepsi Center. No way were they preventing Nashville from winning on home ice and getting what they deserved — fast-tracked to Round 2.

Yet that’s exactly what Colorado did — prevented the series-clinching win. Nashville came out playing like they were due the win, and the Avs played their hearts out.

Well, apparently they have several hearts — and some other extra internal organs as well:

Then-radio announcer Marc Moser, went into conniptions. His voice broke in the elongated. “Scoooooooooooore!” and neither he nor his voice ever quite got under control again as he screamed:

"“This has got to be one of the gutsiest teams in the National Hockey League! Pure guts! They got nothin’ but guts! Every guy with three big ol’ cow hearts, two pancreases, and five stomachs! Guts all over the place!”"

That’s a lot of guts.

And, as we see above, it was the game-winning goal!

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