Through 41 games the Avalanche are on a historic pace thanks in part to a total team effort. It’s an obvious observation -the team has only failed to earn a point in three games thus far.
The major contributions are coming from most of the usual suspects, of course, but the goaltending has also been excellent, and the depth scoring has been impressive.
For a team to be so successful, they need to excel at all facets of the game. The team has been tremendous defensively, and that includes the defense corps’ contributions on the offensive end of the ice.
The obvious defensive statistics are impressive – the team is 1st in penalty kill with an 85.6 success rate. They give up only 26.7 shots per game, good for 25th in the league. Both goaltenders, Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood, have a save percentage over .918 this season. Wedgewood leads the NHL in wins with 18. Wedgewood has a 2.17 goals against average while Blackwood has a measly 2.07 goals against. Each netminder has two shutouts this season.
The team has been ranked as having the NHL’s best blueline as recently as December, and there’s no reason to think that rating hasn’t changed. Led by stalwart Cale Makar, the unit has gotten many contributions from defensemen two through six, including 129 total points as a unit through the first half of the season.
Makar is the first name people think of when mentioning defensemen on the Avalanche – and rightfully so. He’s got 47 points through 41 games this season and continues to be otherworldly. Number 8 has averaged more than a point per game during his career, which is quite the feat for a forward, let alone a defenseman.
Veteran Brent Burns has been a surprise offensively this season. The 40-year-old was an offseason acquisition for Colorado, and he’s added five goals through the first half of the season. Burns only had six total goals last season in Carolina.
Rugged defender Josh Manson, known as the “Manimal” for his physical, defensive style, has registered 15 points through the first half. He’s on pace for his most points in eight seasons.
Defensively sound Devon Toews, reputed as one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, has chipped in 13 points this season for the team. He’s scored double digit goals for the team the prior two seasons, but due to the collective production of the defensive corps this season, he hasn’t been counted on offensively this season and can focus on his defensive acumen.
Sam Girard has missed some time this season, but still has added 11 points in only 26 games. Jack Ahcan has been quality across his six games with the Avalanche, adding one assist and he’s also a +4.
Sam Malinski has taken another step in his development this season. He has 22 points so far this season across 41 games played, which is seven more than his previous career high over 76 games played last season. Malinski has given opposing teams another player to have to strategize for and provided another layer to the Avalanche defense.
This team has been excellent overall. If burgundy and blue nation was given this scenario at the halfway point before the season began, they’d all say they’d accept it. The usual suspects are at the forefront, but these contributions from depth players, or offensive production from unexpected sources like the entirety of the defensive unit, outside Cale Makar, is really helping to drive this tremendous on-ice play.