A Rough Humpday in Vegas

Welcome back!

I enjoyed writing game-by-game recaps of the Colorado Avalanche's 2023-24 season, that I decided that I'd do it again this season. Last year was a tad better than the year before. It was rocky at the end, but we did deliver a memorable playoff beatdown towards the season's best goalie, so there's that. We also delivered some amazing comebacks as well; we came back from down 3-0 quite a bit, and even came back from down 4-0 in one game. We even pulled off a 3-0 comeback in the playoffs last year!

The season ended earlier than we wanted. A second round loss to the Dallas Stars, but we're still that team to beat for sure. There's also this:

It happened, folks. It finally happened. Nathan MacKinnon finally captured the Hart Trophy. This should have been his third Hart Trophy. He's done so much for the Avalanche in his career, he's shown that he's on that same level with Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and yes, Sidney Crosby, but the respect was never there. I was under the belief that Mack had to win the scoring race to even have a shot at the Hart, but Nikita Kucherov took the Ross Trophy. But despite this, all was right with the world, and MacKinnon got his Hart.

Now it was time to see what #29 could do for an encore. The 2024-25 season for the Colorado Avalanche begins now.

The Avs were in Vegas facing off against the Golden Knights; a matchup that is always delicious. Alexandar Georgiev, who led the league in wins yet again, was in net against Adin Hill in Game 1 of 82 for both teams. Hard to believe that this begins Year Eight for the Golden Knights; how time flies. Avs had the early shots lead, so far so good. The period was almost half over, and I was anticipating that first Avs goal. I picked Cale Makar to score it, but when our first marker came at 10:18, it was Mikko Rantanen. The assists came from Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews, and for the reigning Hart Trophy winner, that was point #900 for his career. So the Avs struck first. We would not enjoy this lead for long, as Victor Olofsson tied it up less than half a minute later. Even so, the period was quite for the most part. Then Ivan Barbashev happened. And then, the king of LTIR, Mark Stone, happened. Two goals in 25 seconds. Vegas was up 3-1 after the first 20 minutes of both teams' seasons.

Still 40 minutes to go. The Avs had plenty of time to get out of this. It started well enough. Rantanen struck again on the Avs' first power play of the season. Now it was a matter of time before we tied it up. However, Zach Whitecloud made it a two goal game again. Things quieted down again, offense-wise. I was looking for someone other than the Moose to put it in, and in the tail end of the 2nd period saw just that. Casey Mittelstadt, beginning his first full season with the Avs, made it a one-goal game. The assists came from Samuel Girard and Josh Manson, so they're on the board as well. But once again, Vegas struck right after, and it was Olofsson again with around 15 seconds left.

Vegas was up 5-3 entering the final frame, and at about six and a half minutes into the 3rd period, Rantanen did it. A Hat Trick! Right off the bat, in Game 1 of 82, the first Hat Trick of this new season belongs to an Avs player, and it's not MacKinnon. So it was a one-goal game yet again. And yet again, the Knights made it a two goal game. Mark Stone scored his second of the game, which was also the team's second power play goal, and this time, the Avs couldn't strike back. Barbashev netted his second of the game, and that put it out of reach, with Brett Howden's empty-netter adding insult to injury.

Normally, I'd be raging after a loss to Vegas, especially an 8-4 loss, but there are too many positives to take from this. The main one: the Mikko Rantanen Hat Trick. The Moose is now on pace to score 246 goals this season! In all seriousness, what a start for Rantanen. Also, MacKinnon is now 99 points away from 1000 in his career, he'll get that this year. Plus, four defensemen were on the board in this game. The usual Avs offense was there. This was just a rare bad night for the netminders, and yes, it's plural, as Justus Annunen had to get in during the third period. But it's only Game 1 of 82. Only three periods out of (at least) 246.

The Avalanche will be at home for the next four games; hosting the Blue Jackets (Saturday), Islanders (Monday), Bruins (next Wednesday on TNT), and Ducks (next Friday). This will be one hell of a season, and I am here for it!

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