No need for Colorado Avalanche to panic
Before fans come out with pitchforks and torches, let’s be clear about something. The Colorado Avalanche lost to one of the best teams in the NHL. This team is the Edmonton Oilers club that nearly won the Stanley Cup last season.
They have the leading Hart Trophy candidate in Leon Draisaitl (though MacKinnon won’t make it easy for him), they have an all-world center in Connor McDavid and one of the most underrated goaltenders in Stuart Skinner.
Yes, the Oilers are a good team. They’re so good that they capitalized on every Colorado miscue. That’s what the best teams and best players do.
Like MacKinnon and Makar, Bouchard, Draisaitl, and McDavid make opponents pay. It was the Avs’ turn on Thursday night. It’s over. It’s time to move on and regroup.
The Avalanche will face the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. This game is a must-win for the Avalanche as the Stars have a two-point lead on Avs in the Central Division. A win gives the Avs a share of third place and keeps them nipping at the Minnesota Wild’s heels.
A loss could put the Avalanche further behind in the standings. Again, there’s no need to panic. The Avs have a comfortable six-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the first wildcard spot in the Western Conference.
But beware. Complacency can be a killer in the NHL. The Avs cannot afford to lose focus, certainly not at his point in the season.