Colorado Avalanche: Random Thoughts from Final Flames Games
The Colorado Avalanche dropped their game with the Calgary Flames, losing in overtime 5-4. But they still have a seven-game points streak.
The Colorado Avalanche have completed their regular season series with the Calgary Flames with last night’s game. Colorado lost in overtime 5-4. They win the series, though, since they took the previous two games in regulation.
The loss ends their six-game winning streak, though they’re still on a seven-game points streak. Goal scorers for Colorado were Ryan Graves, Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon and Joonas Donskoi. Not-so-boring Sean Monahan scored the game-winner in overtime.
As we know, the Avalanche have been bitten hard by the injury bug. Nazem Kadri is currently day-to-day, Erik Johnson is week-to-week, Philipp Grubauer is day-to-day, and Cale Makar is day-to-day. Colin Wilson is out indefinitely.
Those are the facts. Now, for a few random thoughts.
Random Thoughts
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The Colorado Avalanche have a turnover problem. They started the season tight on the puck, but they show little passing accuracy with any regularity.
Colorado was lucky to get a point out of tonight’s game. They came out strong, but then were weak in the middle stanza. A final push is all that got them to overtime.
Valeri Nichushkin apparently scores goals now. After going 91 games without a goal (that spanned over four years), he’s scored five goals in the last eight games. Dallas must be pissed.
Tyson Jost hasn’t scored a goal in the last four games. But we’re going to give him the same leeway and support we gave Nuke, who skated in 18 games in burgundy and blue before scoring his first goal in four years. Right?
The coaching staff got wonky with line combinations. Nathan MacKinnon skated on all four lines. He recorded 23:41 of ice time, which is second only to defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
Apparently Zadorov is out of the dog house. He got chippy tonight with Matthe Tkachuk. You love to see that.
The coach started Pierre-Edouard Bellemare for overtime. What the what? Even Bellemare seemed confused, looking to the coach for whether he should return to the bench after losing the faceoff.
Ryan Graves is good. He scored the first goal of the game. The 24-year-old has earned his roster spot.
dark. Next. Celebrating Women's Hockey
The Calgary game marks the first of a three-game home stand. Next up is the Philadelphia Flyers.