The Colorado Avalanche lost a tough 4-1 decision against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night. However, keep in mind that scores can be deceiving.
This game was hardly a blowout performance by the Utah Hockey Club. While the Hockey Club played well, they didn’t really score four goals.
Allow me to elaborate.
The Hockey Club got two lucky bounces on their first two tallies. The first goal, credited to Dylan Guenther, was a bad luck bounce off Artturi Lehkonen’s skate. Guenther threw the puck at the net hoping to get it to Logan Cooley, who was heading to the net.
Guenther did so but managed to get a deflection off Lehkonen and past Scott Wedgewood. The goal was hardly anybody’s fault as it was the type of play you could never rehearse. It’s just the way bounces go in the NHL.
The second goal, credited to Utah defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, was the result of another unlucky bounce for the Avalanche. Kolyachonok’s shot hit Colorado Avalanche blue liner Calvin De Haan in such a way that it squeaked by Wedgewood.
While De Haan had essentially blocked the shot, he didn’t get quite all of it, leading to the Hockey Club’s second goal of the night.
At that point, the Colorado Avalanche were down 2-0 midway through the second period. Utah’s only real goal came a few minutes later as Guenther notched his second of the night on a beautiful power play goal. Lastly, Utah added an empty-netter to seal the win.
Wedgewood continues strong for Colorado Avalanche
It’s hard to find Scott Wedgewood at fault for the loss on after all the Utah Hockey Club. The two bad-luck goals were hardly on him. Meanwhile, the power play goal is on the entire team, with the empty-netter really no one’s fault. As such, we can conclude that the Utah Hockey Club was actually gifted the win.
Now, it’s fair to say that the Colorado Avalanche didn’t score, hence the loss could be pinned on the offense. But beyond that, the Avalanche played a good game. They keep in mind the Hockey Club in check for most of the night.
It’s also worth mentioning the Hockey Club is one of the most underrated teams in the league. They have a solid young core. They are fast and can make opposing teams pay for their mistakes big time. So, it’s not like the Avs got blown out by the San Jose Sharks or Chicago Blackhawks.
The fact of the matter is that the Avalanche lost one of those frustrating games that they must simply put behind them.
Wedgewood has come in to solidify the crease, giving the Avs confidence in their play. It seems that Wedgewood has played a similar role to the one Kevin Lankinen has played all season with the Vancouver Canucks. While we have yet to see Mackenzie Blackwood make his Avalanche debut, it seems that the Avalanche’s goaltending situation is in a much better place with Scott Wedgewood between the pipes.