Avalanche Game 4 Recap: Home Sweet Home

After three straight home games to start the season, the Colorado Avalanche finally returned to their home ice at Ball Arena for this meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Avs have a strange schedule to open the season; started with three road games, then it's two home games, followed by three more home games. On the bright side, there has to be a home stand somewhere in this season.

The Avs' first of 41 home games was on ESPN, and there was only one reason why: Connor Bedard. The NHL and the networks that air it are trying their damnedest to market Bedard; this is Chicago's fifth game, yet it's their fourth on national TV already, and their second on ESPN. Ay caramba. Anyway, the game started out even; Avs had the shots advantage, but it was a small one. The Blackhawks went on the power play, but it would be the Avs who would answer, as Logan O'Connor netted his second straight shortie, with the assists coming from Josh Manson and Andrew Cogliano. Avs killed off the rest of the penalty, and would be on the power play themselves later in the period. The Avs' PP had only one goal in 10 chances this season, but a second would come on this one, and it was Ryan Johansen finally getting his first point and goal with Colorado to make it 2-0.

That was the score after 20, and the Avs started to dominate in shots during the latter half of the period, and it continued on in the second period. Chicago's Petr Mrazek had to be a brick wall the rest of the way, but the lead remained intact due to Alexandar Georgiev's strong resolve. The Avs would make it 3-0 thanks to Miles Wood, or so Colorado thought, as a review for offsides saw the officials take about five seconds to overturn it. So it remained 2-0, but it would be 3-0 for real this time, as Devon Toews (he of the big money deal) shot an easy one right in the net.

3-0 was the score after 40 minutes, and the 3rd period was more of the same. Georgiev continued to be a rock in net, while the Avs kept shooting. Colorado added one more thanks to--guess who?--Nathan MacKinnon. Mack's second of the season made it 4-0, and all that was left to do was for Georgiev to hold on for the shutout, which he would do successfully.

I was excited about all of the Avalanche's big name acquisitions; Tomas Tatar, Ross Colton, Miles Wood, Jonathan Drouin, but the one I was the most excited for was Ryan Johansen. I had watched Johansen as part of that amazing Nashville Predators group, and I couldn't believe that we got him in that trade. By this game, though, Johansen was the only one of our newbies who hadn't had a point yet, but the tenacity was there. When he put one in on the power play, I was elated. I expect a lot more from Johansen as the season progresses.

This is amazing! The Avalanche are 4-0 to start the season! The wins have been impressive; a strong 5-2 win in LA, a 2-1 comeback shootout win in San Jose, a dominant 4-1 win in Seattle, and this shutout win in our home opener. Speaking of that shutout, with this, Alexandar Georgiev's GAA is now down to 0.98 to start the season! Wow! He's given up four goals in four games, but his sub-1.00 GAA is because one of the games went past regulation.

The Avalanche will remain at home on Saturday to host the Carolina Hurricanes, the second half of a brief two-game home stand before an Eastern swing to end the month of October. I said our schedule was weird earlier; after the game against Carolina, four of the Avs' following games are on the road. At least we're on this good start, so that definitely helps!

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