Colorado Avalanche D-Man Erik Johnson’s Sexy Condor Goal

Colorado Avalanche alternate captain Erik Johnson got the team started in their win with a signature Condor-style goal.

The Colorado Avalanche have officially entered the playoff race again. With last night’s win against the Dallas Stars, the Avs are tied for the final playoff spot with the Arizona Coyotes, and the Avalanche get the tiebreaker.

That is, if the Washington Capitals with all their fancy scorers and their fancy Tom Wilson can take care of business with the Minnesota Wild in regulation. Come on, Caps, you’re the Stanley Cup champs — just flash your bling at the Cupless Wild and score a bunch of goals on Devan “Crybaby” Dubnyk.

Anyway, lost in all the hullabaloo last night was the fact that it was defenseman and alternate captain Erik Johnson‘s birthday. He turned 31. He’s been with us since he was 23 years old. He’s entering his veteran years now, but he’s still our Condor, soaring across the ice in defense of his team.

And last night he celebrated his 31st birthday with a sweet EJ special of goals, a skilled one-timer slapshot to open the scoring:

Look at our little Sam Girard, so tiny and so unemotional, setting up the big Condor for that powerful shot. Let’s also take a moment to appreciate how smol he seems in that group hug.

Anyway, what do I love about that goal? So many things.

I love that it’s on that big goon, Ben Bishop, who creamed our captain two weeks ago.

I love that Erik Johnson fired it off so hard that it would have gone through Bishop if needed.

I love how EJ was casually gliding around the ice like the Condor we call him until Girard feathers him the pass.

I love how the puck actually bounces off of Bishop’s blocker and into the net.

And I love how the newest guy on the team, Derick Brassard, is the first in for the celebratory group hug.

Philipp Grubauer played out of his mind in Dallas, but he faced 45 shots from a highly skilled Dallas Stars team and did not throw a shutout. Alas, Dallas scored one goal, so Johnson’s goal was not the game-winner.

Nonetheless, he had the best post-game winning smile:

He also celebrated the win by bringing back the Condor:

My favorite part is his whacking into Sven Andrighetto with his gigantic wings. He doesn’t try to skate around Sven or even tilt his wings! Andrighetto looks around, sees it’s a gigantic Condor, and goes along with the celebration. The Condor also pushes MacKinnon out of the way to get to his target — Nikita Zadorov!

Erik Johnson has long been a boon to this team. He bring leadership and all the skill of a two-way defenseman. He’s leaving an indelible mark on the Colorado Avalanche — and we’re so lucky to have him. Happy birthday, EJ.