Colorado Avalanche: Random Thoughts after OT Win in Florida

The Colorado Avalanche managed to win another game in overtime despite playing a game full of fits and starts. They remain unbeaten in regulation.

The Colorado Avalanche won a sloppy game in Florida, ultimately beating the Panthers 5-4 in overtime.

The game got off to the kind of high-octane start you expect from the Avs. Unfortunately, it was the Cats doing all the scoring. Colorado was quickly down two goals as Florida inflicted on them what we prefer to see Avs players doing.

Over the next period-and-a-half was a cat-and-mouse game as the two teams kept trading goals — and penalties. Next came a really weird snooze-fest of a third period in which neither team scored. I don’t want to say they were both playing not to lose, but… some might say it.

And then, overtime and Nathan MacKinnon with the game-winning goal:

MacKinnon was a game-time decision to even play after a nasty hit from bruiser Patric Hornqvist that was just centimeters away from being knee-on-knee. He didn’t look his best for most of the game until, you know, that goal above.

And now, some random observations:

• The Colorado Avalanche seem to be getting over their overtime struggles from last season. Just seven games into the season they’ve already seen overtime three times, and they’re 2-2 so far.
• Andre Burakovsky is fitting in nicely. He had two goal and an assist tonight, and already have four goals and four assists this season. He’s also becoming a fan favorite:

• Jared Bendar seems to be doing his best to ruin Tyson Jost’s career again, benching him because Cale Makar let in a goal. I won’t be taking questions at this time.
• Nikita Zadorov is a noticeable presence on the ice. Maybe his inclusion in the game against Pittsburgh wouldn’t have prevented the Hornqvist attack, but we’ll never know.
• Philipp Grubauer is a very different style of starting goalie than Semyon Varlamov, and it turns out that’s just fine. He made a lot of highlight reel saves tonight that, frankly, looked mundane because of how easy he makes it look.
• The top line… hasn’t looked like a top. I hate to suggest swapping them out with any of the second line players because that line has been great. Maybe pop Gabriel Landeskog down to the “third line” and give JT Compher a run on the top line.
• I was… hoping for a little better from our captain. That OT goal in Pittsburgh wasn’t totally his fault, but I expected him to skate with a chip on his shoulder.
• I continue to like the cut of Ryan Graves’ jib. He’s really become steady on the back end.

Well, the Colorado Avalanche are headed off to Tampa Bay to take on the… warm Lightning. So far none of the games have gone the way I’d expect, so who know’s what’s going to happen there. Hopefully an Avs win.