Avalanche Game 7 Recap: Roadblock

For the third time in franchise history, and the second time since the move, the Colorado Avalanche are 6-0-0, a perfect point percentage. The winning streak continued with their win over the New York Islanders, and their next destination was Pittsburgh to face the Penguins. The Avalanche looked to match their best start in their overall franchise history, as the 1985-86 Quebec Nordiques started the season 7-0-0.

The game started off slow overall, there wasn't a lot of shooting, but Pittsburgh's first shot went in. Reilly Smith, who was part of the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup Championship last year, made it 1-0 in favor of the Penguins, and at the halfway point, the shots were even at two each. The Penguins had a power play that was killed off, but literally one or two seconds after it was killed, it was Smith again, making it 2-0 for the Penguins. That was the score after 20 minutes, and for the first time all season, the Avalanche were in a deep hole early.

Colorado had chances. They had power plays that didn't go far. Even worse, the turnovers kept piling up. Smith's second goal was the result of a turnover, and an even worse turnover led to Lars Eller (who was with the Avs last year) putting it in a half open net to make it 3-0--the Avs' first three-goal deficit all season. Then in the final few minutes of the second period, the Avs went back on the power play. A double minor. This was the Avs' chance to get back in the game, get the game within one. Unfortunately, the shots still weren't going through, and at one point, the Avs actually iced the puck.

It was 3-0 after 40, and the third period started with the small bit left in the double minor killed off. The Avs managed to take the lead in shots, but even so, nothing was getting past Tristan Jarry. By around the seven-minute mark of the period, I knew the game was over, but of course, Mr. You Know Who himself, Sidney Crosby, twisted the knife as only he could with a goal in the middle of the third frame. Alexandar Georgiev's night was done, and so was the game. The Avalanche were blanked, 4-0, their first loss of this young season.

You can't win 'em all, folks. No one goes 82-0. This loss would have been a lot less damning had the Avs had some get up and go in it, but it was not to be. It was a total Murphy's Law performance; anything that could possibly go wrong...did. But that's hockey. That's how things go. This team is still amazing, and still has a pretty decent lead in the Central Division in this young season. This is only Game #7. There's still 75 of these things left in the season, and again, the Avalanche are still one of the top teams in the league to start this year.

The player in the pic is Ross Colton, one of the newly acquired players on the team. Colton spent time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, joining the team during the 2020-21 season, which saw him win the Stanley Cup, as the Lightning repeated as champions. The Bolts were later defeated by the Avalanche on the following year, and it was during this past offseason that Colton joined the Avs, signing a four year deal with the team. So far, Colton only has two points in seven games played, though his first goal with Colorado came against the Islanders. I see a lot more offense from Colton as the season progresses, but he will not have to do too much, not on that loaded team.

The Avalanche will end their three-game road swing with an early matinee game against the Buffalo Sabres. This will also serve as Colorado's last game in the month of October, which has been very good to the team this season.

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