Ending the Year on a Roll

It's fitting that the Colorado Avalanche's last game of the 2024 calendar year was against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avs entered that year having problems with Winnipeg, yet the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs saw us totally dismantle them. However, Connor Hellebuyck got his pound of flesh in the first meeting of the season, a 1-0 shutout win in Winnipeg. On New Year's Eve, it was Round Two, and it was in Denver this time. We had the added bonus of Jonathan Drouin returning to the lineup as well.

Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Eric Comrie, as the Jets were playing the second game of a back-to-back set. Avs dominated the Jets in shots, and it would finally pay off at 11:51, when Artturi Lehkonen made it 1-0. 14th goal of the season, and fourth in two games. Late that period, the Avs received a power play, but it was killed off. That would be the only power play of the entire game. Avs led 1-0 after 20 minutes, and the second period would see the Avs press for a 2-0 lead. The Jets did their own pressing and it resulted in Rasmus Kupari tying it up. That goal came at 10:20, and just over six minutes later, Devon Toews made it 2-1 for the Avs. Before I could properly drink in that lead, Gabriel Vilardi tied it up.

It was 2-2 after 40 minutes, but the third period would belong to the Avs. At 7:22, Casey Mittelstadt lit the lamp, and he had to have felt good. That was his first goal in 19 games! The assists came from Josh Manson (his second of the evening) and Jonathan Drouin, and the Avs looked for more and kept shooting. Comrie was pulled, but that allowed Mikko Rantanen to get his 21st of the season. Comrie was pulled again, and Ross Colton put it in the empty net to really ice it.

I said some time ago that the Avs need to go on some sort of winning tear at some point this season. I think winning five straight and eight of ten qualifies, don't you? The Avalanche went from sputtering badly to moving into a prime position entering January, and even though Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have been the point leaders in the NHL, this has been a true team effort. This win was absolutely amazing. A big win against the #1 team in the NHL. We kept Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Mark Schiefele off the scoreboard! This was a statement win for sure for the Avalanche, and it looks like the aura we've had for the last three years is back with an immense vengeance.

It's no doubt that the Avalanche will be one of the NHL's Sweet 16 this year, but with the way we are playing and the pace we're on, I seriously think that another deep run is in the cards for us. This game was the first in a four-game homestand, and we will kick off 2025 with three more home games on Thursday (against the Sabres), Saturday (against the Canadiens), and Monday (against the Panthers). Since the Avs have been on this playoff streak, the month of January has been very, very good to us. We'll see if that trend continues this year. Here's to 2025!!

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