Owning Alberta Yet Again

The Colorado Avalanche have basically been in "practice for the playoffs" mode since we won the Presidents' Trophy on our 78th game of the season. I said some time ago that I have figured out this whole Presidents' Trophy thing. The way I see it, winning it as late as possible is good, just as long as it's not very very late. By that, I mean a team should not be playing Games 80-82 still looking to win that Trophy. But on the flipside, you definitely don't want to win it too early. To this day, I still say that's what caused the Lightning's demise seven seasons ago; they won that Trophy with nine games left!

Regarding the Avs, we won that Trophy on the right time. Not too early, but not too late. Our first game after winning the Trophy was well played, but we lost in OT. Still, that's a point. The Avs had a final road trip afterwards; back-to-back games in the province of Alberta--the Canadian epicenter of the Mountain Time Zone. So here's what took place:

First off, a Monday meeting with the Oilers in Edmonton. The last MacKinnon vs McDavid meeting of the season... or is it? A lot of positioning is still up for grabs in that Pacific Division, and if the Oilers aren't careful, well, a repeat of the 2022 West Final could be in the cards. Scott Wedgewood was in net against Connor Ingram, and the first period was quiet except for a lot of shots and a penalty very late in the period. Avs had a power play with 40 seconds left in the opening frame, it transcended the second period, and was knocked off.

Avs had another power play knocked off later on, but in the middle of the period, Sam Malinski put it in, and the only assist came from Nicolas Roy. After striking first, Brock Nelson ended up in the box. Edmonton's power play was killed off, but they did tie it up a few minutes later, and of course, it was #97. Of course it is. 1-1 was the score after 40 minutes, and after another Avs PP was killed off in the third, the Oilers got one later on. It became a five-on-three because Parker Kelly actually had the nerve to swat the puck out of the zone with his glove. I don't know what the hell he was thinking. Thankfully, all of it was killed off.

Game went to OT, because of course it did. Avs actually got a PP with barely over two minutes left. We delivered the shots, but no go. Shootout time. 1-1 after the first round, 2-2 after the second round. Jack Roslovic was stopped. Nathan MacKinnon wasn't, and that set Connor Ingram off. Avs won it 2-1 via the shootout, getting two more points, and three out of the maximum four points following winning the Trophy.

On the following evening, the Avs paid the Flames a visit. Calgary had two things to be happy about. One, the season was almost over, and two, the Stampeders would start in just two months. I seriously can't understand how a team could go so far south in just four years. In 2022, they were three wins away from Final Four. Now? Certain death. In this one, Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Dustin Wolf, and the first period was quiet except for penalty kills on each side.

In the second period, the Flames actually struck first, and it was Blake Coleman with the tally. Five minutes later, Artturi Lehkonen tied it up, with the assists coming from Sam Malinski and Cale Makar, who was back in action. With the game tied at one, the Avs received a power play that became just over a minute of 5-on-3. Everything was knocked off, and the game remained tied at one after 40 minutes. The tie score was holding up as the third period wound down. I was thinking we'd spend the rest of the regular season heading to OT, but Our Captain, Gabriel Landeskog, gave us the lead with under five minutes left. Goalie was pulled minutes later, and with the net empty, Nathan MacKinnon put in his 53rd goal of the season. Makar picked up his third helper, and Martin Necas assisted as well, which means:

The Colorado Avalanche swept the Alberta road trip, and the game against Calgary saw Martin Necas pick up his 100th point of the season, his first 100-point season of his career in his first full season with the Avs! I knew Necas would be amazing for the Avs, but I never thought he'd reach 100 points! And from the looks of it, barring something wild and crazy, Nathan MacKinnon's going to capture the Rocket Richard Trophy as this season's leading goal scorer! MacKinnon will serve as the second Avs player to win the Richard; joining Milan Hejduk on that very short list.

This is a good winning stretch after winning the Presidents' Trophy. Five points out of a maximum six since capturing the Trophy. Certain players getting rested. The team not completely phoning it in. Yeah, we're ready. We will end the regular season at home against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, and by then, we will finally know our playoff opponent. It could be the Los Angeles Kings. It could be the Anaheim Ducks. It could even be the Oilers. Holy moley!

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