The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames on Thursday night 3-1. The victory was their league-best 52nd in regulation. Coupled with Colorado's uncommonly high number of overtime losses (10), and against just 16 regulation losses, the club has accumulated 114 points in the standings. They have guaranteed a finish atop the standings and a Presidents' Trophy in the process.
We have already made the case here at MHS that the supposed curse isn't something this club should fear. Colorado has led the way for virtually an entire season. They have earned both the accolades and the pressure that comes with sustained elite performance. Obviously, if they don't hoist the Stanley Cup this summer, it will be viewed as a major disappointment. But the Avalanche are an organization used to that standard.
You might be asking yourself what more can be gained in four games with material stakes essentially gone from the equation. The truth might be surprising if we drill down on it a bit. As it turns out, there are numerous upsides to this situation.
Awards and milestones
Nathan MacKinnon has actually fallen behind both Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov in the overall points race. However, he still leads in goals with 52, and could capture the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy. For a humble guy who usually eschews outside declarations of his own greatness, this one might still mean something.
MacKinnon has long been a prolific scorer. But this is one award he's never gotten. In fact, the only other Colordo Avalanche player who has led the National Hockey League in goals since the trophy's inception in 1999, was Milan Hejduk in 2003.
This Avalanche club is especially unselfish when it comes to getting credit for goals vs assists. A tendency to pass first is ingrained in them almost to a man, and most notably on the top line. The empty net goal to seal Thursday's game is a textbook example. MacKinnon and Martin Necas were practically seeming to say " No, you score, buddy". Eventually MacKinnon ceded to Necas and iced the game.
This team might play coy in interviews, but they know where they are in respect to certain statistics. For instance, the boys in the locker room know that MacKinnon is leading in goals by just two, over Montreal's Cole Caufield. In fact, it might matter more to MacKinnon's teammates that he try for a run at the Rocket.
It is doubtless also common knowledge that Necas himself stands on the precipice of his first ever 100-point season. With three more points on Thursday, Necas now sits at 98, just two points shy of the century mark. Marty McFly is already enjoying the best campaign of his career, blasting past a previous high of 71, but this would be significant. Necas has been on fire since his Olympic breakout and putting this specific feather in his cap would be more than deserved.
The question of rest vs rust
Another rather obvious facet of this home stretch is the luxury of resting players after a long grueling year of top-notch hockey. While it could be argued that the current injuries to players complicate plans to rest players, another way to think of it, is that they are simplified.
Yes, definitely rest Nazem Kadri the rest of the way. Heck, even consider resting Cale Makar all four games unless he insists on suiting up to get some pace back. Nothing is off the table as far as that goes. Nathan MacKinnon might even prefer the rest to chasing hardware. It would certainly be funny to see him shrug at a technical second place finish after his meme-worthy reaction to a silver medal in Milan.
I would say that for any players nursing even minor dings, rest might be just the thing. We know that captain Gabriel Landeskog has battled all year with injuries. Letting him rest up also feels like a wise choice.
Players like Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen, who have missed games throughout the year, would also be good candidates for rest. Veritable rocks like Brock Nelson or Josh Manson probably wouldn't request it, but could maybe use a breather.
Basically, the only guy you know is suiting up down the stretch is ironman Brent Burns. That's okay by me, and fans shouldn't fret if the Avalanche call up 40% of the Colorado Eagles and finish the regular season resting anyone who needs it.
Is Blackwood the one notable exception?
There is one Avalanche player who might actually benefit from some low-stakes starts. Surprisingly, that one guy is Colorado netminder Mackenzie Blackwood. Again, this decision may already be made simple by that rough bump Scott Wedgewood took this week, when his tailbone looked to be driven into his own goalpost. The official word on Wedgewood seems to be that he's fine.
Still, I would guess that his Lumberyard compatriot Blackwood might take three of the final four games on the schedule. To be completely upfront, I think that Blackwood's demise has been greatly exaggerated. An awful stinker against the Canucks, and a less-than-perfect game against a desperate Blues team certainly raised eyebrows.
Make no mistake though, Blackwood has been good this year. It's just that next to Scott Wedgewood's league-leading .918 save percentage, it hasn't been as good. Wedgewood has earned the right to hold the net for Colorado as the postseason begins. Even so, some wild swings of opinion have reactionaries treating Blackwood like he's chopped wood.
Let me remind folks that at a .901 save percentage, Blackwood is still sturdy. It might interest you to know that he's two spots above reigning Vezina and MVP winner Connor Hellebuyck right now. As much as it hurts to recall, Avalanche fans are just years removed from rolling into the playoffs with Alexandar Georgiev as a primary option. That was a genuine crisis.
All the same. closing out the year with the temperature turned down from the tense Central Division race might be the dream scenario for a goalie like Blackwood. The reps will certainly matter for him and could help him lock back into a comfortable rhythm. I talked about milestones earlier with Necas and his points pace, but Blackwood also sits tied for his career high in wins right now, at 22.
That's right Avs Faithful, even ceding the majority of the starts to Wedgewood due to injury stints twice this season, Blackwood has, to this point, matched his career-high in wins, which was set last year. Even one more win will be a career-best. Aside from any other noise, it's a concrete reminder that Blackwood is winning games, and can win them for this powerhouse club.
This Colorado Avalanche team is deep at every level and the last four games might not mean much as it relates to standings. But they could mean everything when it comes to being prepared for the postseason.