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Colorado Avalanche: Opinions on Shootout Win Against Kings

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 19: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings fights for control of the puck against Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at the Pepsi Center on January 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 19: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings fights for control of the puck against Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at the Pepsi Center on January 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings in Los Angeles 2-1. Both goalies had a stupendous performance, but Pavel Francouz was the victor.

The Colorado Avalanche claimed a victory over the Kings in Los Angeles. They had to get all the way to the shootout, but they got the big two points.

They got the big four points on the two-game, back-to-back road trip. They did so by scoring just two goals. More on that in a moment.

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This road trip and the attendant four points have now put the Avalanche is a good position. They’ve pulled to within just one point away from matching the St. Louis Blues for the top of the Western Conference. And they have a game in hand.

And a boatload of injuries. Andre Burakovsky joined the list of walking wounded. He apparently sustained an upper body injury in the Ducks game, and he did not play tonight. In his stead, the Avalanche recalled Logan O’Connor.

There has been no timeline given on Burakovsky’s injury. But it means he joins Mikko Rantanen, Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri, and Philipp Grubauer on the injury list.

Nonetheless, the Avalanche keep finding ways to win games.

Random Opinions on the Game

  • Why couldn’t Tyler Toffoli have been traded before the Stadium Series game? He’s the only one who’s scored on Pavel Francouz for the Kings.
  • Francouz signed a two-year extension a couple days ago. Oh, boy, is he earning it. He has been amazing this season. And he’s the reason the Avs got four points even with scoring just two goals in two games.
  • Ryan Graves scored the game-tying goal. I… didn’t expect him to have such a great season this year. Boy, he is an asset to the team.
  • Cale Makar got injured temporarily and the referees called his collapse “embellishment” and what kind of bull you-know-what is that?! Why is officiating so bad?
  • I like the shootout.
  • I was not happy to see the game go to the shootout. I immediately flashed back to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi when Jonathan Quick was the second half of the winning partnership against the Russians.
  • Quick is still really good, or at least he was the last two times the Avs had to face him. He’s got three years after this on a contract with a $5.8 million cap hit. Yes, he’s 34, but might he have a Stanley Cup run or two in him…?
  • I didn’t think Joonas Donskoi was going to score on Quick just like I didn’t think Francouz was going to stop all his shooters. I guess I’m glad Toffoli is gone for now at least.
  • Tyson Jost had a good game. Don’t @ me.
  • Nathan MacKinnon hasn’t scored a goal in two games. Time to freak out. 😲

I think the Colorado Avalanche have a very good chance of overtaking the Blues and being Best in the West. It stinks that the injury bug keeps taking a chomp out of them, but they seem to pull together and find ways to win when that happens.

Next. Sakic Cagey about Trade Deadline. dark

Unfortunately, we won’t get to see another Avalanche game until Wednesday when they host the Buffalo Sabres. Tomorrow, though, they do have their Charity Brunch. Check here for the highlights of their baskets.

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