After their 19th game and still sitting in a playoff spot, it would seem an odd time to push the panic button for the Colorado Avalanche. Just four points behind first-place Vegas, the Avs have started well enough to feel like they’ve weathered the early-season storms that have come their way, from another rash of injuries to a COVID shutdown…...
The Avs special teams continue to fire on all cylinders as they take down the LA Kings on two Power Play goals. The second unit, in particular, is showing some chemistry on the blue line. https://youtu.be/8ZfeooZ4_e0
The Avs are sporting what could be considered the best defense in Avalanche history coming into this season. With talent that was regularly seen on the top pair just a few short years ago, the depth of the defense is work diving into. https://youtu.be/qte_yb6FCiM
The Avs may have taken the L but if that’s the Nathan MacKinnon this series is gonna get, Avs fans have nothing to be worried about. https://youtu.be/g-gFwhcy_P0
Perhaps this is controversial, or perhaps it isn't, but let it be known: as of right now, Samuel Girard is the Avs #1 defenseman.
Still just 21 years old, Girard led the Avs in average time on ice at 21:19 a game, but where the staff trusted him more than any other player on the team is at even strength, where he averaged over a full minute more than the next closest player (Erik Johnson). While Jared Bednar and Nolan Pratt won't hesitate to put Girard on the ice with Cale Makar for offensive zone face-offs, they pretty consistently use him in defensive matchups against the other teams best players.
The three best players from the Avs overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. https://youtu.be/ykGix8WK4nQ
The Avs beat is riding shotgun with the Nuggets and to pair it with The List, we are rolling out The Tape, showcasing and breaking down some of the more interesting plays from previous games. 1. The spin move. Girard’s tornade had been a rare sight for the majority of December but we have now seen it a few times…...
There’s a scene from “The Office” where main character and cliche-ruiner Michael Scott realizes he has the upper hand on his former employer and he starts a conversation by saying, “Well, well, well. How the turntables…” before trailing off and realizing he’s screwed up the phrase. That’s kind of what I imagined tonight when Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Girard had…...
The three best Avs from their touchdown scoring win over the St. Louis Blues https://youtu.be/6FF5hg6G6mU
Welcome to the weekly Avs mailbag, where we answer whatever Avs questions you have on your mind. If you have any questions for the mailbag, leave them for Evan Rawal on twitter or respond in the comments.
The Avs got a point out of this game and that is more than they would have in previous years. https://youtu.be/9RW5RECIVZ4
This episode of Film Rundown looks at the defensive pairing of Sam Girard and Erik Johnson and why it should be broken up. ...
“We have to play a full 60 minutes.” One of hockey’s most-repeated cliches is all about how teams have to play a full game in order to come out with the win. But the dirty secret is that it isn’t really true at all. Tonight was another example of that as the Toronto Maple Leafs played a very effective 18…...
Welcome to the weekly Avs mailbag, where we answer whatever Avs questions you have on your mind. If you have any questions for the mailbag, leave them for Evan Rawal on twitter or respond in the comments.
One of the things I love most about watching sports is when you see a player who, even at the highest level, does things other players simply cannot. We are into the seventh season of watching Nathan MacKinnon so it’s easy to take him for granted at times but he certainly stands out as one of the NHL’s bests.…...