Avalanche Game 1 Recap: The Road to Reclaim Begins

April 30, 2023. Since that very day, I've been waiting for this day, October 11, 2023. On the former date, that's when the Colorado Avalanche's attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions came to a fast and abrupt end. I wasn't literally counting down the days, but I was looking forward to the following season, because Game 1 of 82 begins a mission to reclaim the throne.

The Avalanche had quite the offseason. First, the goodbyes. We did lose J.T. Compher to the Red Wings, Alex Newhook to the Montréal Canadiens, longtime stalwart Erik Johnson to the Buffalo Sabres, and Darren Helm called it a career after winning Cups with the Red Wings and Avalanche. On the plus side, there were the acquisitions. Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators, Miles Wood and Tomas Tatar from the New Jersey Devils, Ross Colton from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Jonathan Drouin from those aforementioned Canadiens. To me, that's a huge haul. They all impressed in preseason, but the Avalanche's opening game was the true test.

The Avs' season started on the road against the Los Angeles Kings, who were also coming off a first-round playoff exit--their second straight. Alexandar Georgiev (who should have won the Vezina last year) was in net against Cam Talbot (making his Kings debut), and the opening frame was pretty even; shots were three apiece after about six minutes. First power play of the game went to the Kings, but the Avs were able to kill it off, and then a few seconds later, Colorado struck first. Who else? Nathan MacKinnon. The assists came from Mikko Rantanen and Jonathan Drouin, and after the goal, the Avs had a power play, which saw matching minors called during the man advantage. That was killed off, but after 20, Colorado led 1-0.

Period 2 saw Colorado continue their momentum, as a power play led to Makar cashing in to make it 2-0. MacKinnon and Rantanen with the helpers, and the latter would add a goal to make it 3-0. Another assist for MacKinnon, so he and Rantanen have three points each, while Devon Toews had the other assist. The Kings had been chippy for most of the game, they could have easily had goals earlier than they did. They finally got on the board 6:18 into the frame; Carl Grundstrom from Phillip Danault, and after a scuffle later in the period, the Kings found themselves getting amped up. The final minutes saw the Kings really push for another goal, and with under five seconds left, they got it. Quinton Byfield cut LA's deficit to one goal, with the assist going to longtime stalwart, Anze Kopitar.

Avs led 3-2 after two periods, and the third period saw both teams looking for something. LA really pressed to tie this thing, but Colorado cashed in, as Rantanen scored his second goal of the game to make it 4-2. LA tried to maintain their momentum, but they ended up having to pull the goalie early, with over five minutes left. The Avs would ice it quickly, as Miles Wood put it in the empty net, with assists from Ross Colton and Tomas Tatar. So the line full of new players to the team totally cashed in, and the Avs went on to win 5-2.

Mikko Rantanen's form remains intact. A four point night for the player affectionately known as "Moose"; two goals, two assists. MacKinnon had three points of his own (G & 2 A), and as for the new Avs on the block, every one of them had points with the exception of the player I picked to score first in this game, Ryan Johansen (he'll get it going, though). The penalty kill also won this game; LA had five power play chances, including two back-to-back chances in the third, but our PK took down all of them. In spite of the chances, Colorado ended outshooting LA, 37-36, and led the entire game.

A good start for the Avalanche in this season opener. Yes, this is one game out of 82, but even the first game can be vital and telling for one's season. Regarding the Avs, five goals, a perfect PK, and led the whole game. That's a huge positive sign for this team.

The Avalanche will head to San Jose to face off against the Sharks on Saturday, October 14; the second game of a three-game road trip to kick off the season.

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