Avalanche Game 31 Recap: No Bigger Boat Needed

Entering the second leg of a back-to-back, the Colorado Avalanche found themselves in third place in the Central Division. It was a three way tie in points with the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars; both of whom had a game in hand over Colorado. Game 30 was a disaster, but Game 31 was a welcome opportunity to return to the top of the Central. The Avs faced off against the San Jose Sharks, the second of three meetings this season. The first meeting was Colorado's second game of the season, a 2-1 win via shootout. However, a lot has happened in the last two months. This is a different Sharks team. While they're still not in a good position, they are playing with a lot of "give a damn" and it's led them to nine wins in the 20 games they've played since their horrendous 0-10-1 start.

Alexandar Georgiev was in net against Mackenzie Blackwood, who almost stole that first meeting at the Shark Tank. It was heated from the start, as SJ's Jacob MacDonald received five and 10 for a boarding hit to Sam Malinski. A five minute major power play for the Avs, and remember, that's the entire five minutes on the power play, whether goals are scored or not. Strangely, it wasn't really going at first. The shots were barely coming through, but the Avs did strike. Valeri Nichushkin makes it 1-0 from Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon, with the latter's point streak living on. The major ended 40 seconds later, but the Avs would be back on the power play later on, leading to another goal. Mikko Rantanen made it 2-0 from MacKinnon and Devon Toews, and with 100 seconds left in the frame, Miles Wood made it 3-0, and that was the score after 20 minutes.

In 65 minutes in that first meeting, the Avs only scored once on Blackwood. Already, Colorado lit him up with three goals in the first period alone. It would be four early in the second period; MacKinnon scored unassisted, marking his third point of the game. The shutout would not last, as Tomas Hertl (who was drafted in the same year as MacKinnon) put SJ on the board on the power play. It was 4-1 Avs after 40 minutes, and nearly halfway into the third period, Ryan Johansen's 10th goal of the season made it 5-1 for the Avalanche, and that just about did it. After Hertl scored another power play goal, head coach David Quinn decided to pull Blackwood early for that extra attacker. They needed three goals. Instead, MacKinnon put it in the empty net; second goal of the game, fourth point as well. The Avs won it, 6-2, and returned to the top of the Central Division mountain.

Like I said before, it's high time that Nathan MacKinnon receives some high Hart Trophy consideration. His four points gives him 47 at this point of the season, which puts him at second in the league behind Nikita Kucherov. Yes, I know it's early. Yes, I know Kucherov exists. But I'm dead serious, they need to put MacKinnon's name on that Hart Trophy, especially if he gets another 100 this season, and he ends up leading in points. Also, can we stop with the Alexandar Georgiev slander already? He's more than proved why he should be in Vezina consideration this year.

The Avalanche will head on the road on Tuesday to face off against the Chicago Blackhawks--Connor Bedard and all. As for the Sharks, the third and final meeting of the season will take place on New Year's Eve.

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