Goose Eggs

Maybe it's me, but it seems like there are two sides to being a Colorado Avalanche fan; at least it seems that way ever since we became, well... this about seven years ago. One side is elated over a number of the games we've played, especially the ones we've won and how we won them, and we believe that we'll get a good spot in the standings. The other sees how our rivals are doing, and in moments where we fail to capitalize, we believe our journey will end sooner than it should.

I am always confident and positive when it comes to the Avs. However, we really should be higher up in the standings than we actually are. On the flip side to that statement, I always believe that the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars will fall off at some point. Don't mention the Winnipeg Jets; chances are, they're winning the Central this year. The bottom line is this: I will be happy with second place, because it means home ice in Round 1, with possibilities for Round 2. For this Avs fan, the quest begins begins in Vancouver.

The Avs' Western Canada road trip, our last three games before the Four Nations Break, began with a trip to Vancouver to face off against Three Pettersson Night, aka the Canucks. Seriously, thanks to the deals they made, the Canucks have three Petterssons: Marcus and two Eliases--one of them a defenseman. It's the NHL equivalent of an Ed, Edd n Eddy situation.

So anyway, Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Thatcher Demko, with the Canucks playing without their star defenseman, and likely Norris candidate, Quinn Hughes. First period was pretty tight, Avs received the game's first PP, but no go. Blackwood was still stopping pucks left and right to keep us in it, and the game was scoreless after one. Second period, was a bit more of the same, but Jake DeBrusk did something that two teams couldn't do in the last few days: score on Blackwood. A weird goal, but as long as it goes in the net, it doesn't matter. So Blackwood's 107-minute shutout streak ends, and we have to come from behind. He did hold things down enough to keep it a one goal game after 40 minutes.

The 3rd period was really wild. So despite the fact that Miles Wood was interfered with, he's the one being penalized for a supposed "cross check" against D-Petey (there wasn't one). The refs decided to add roughing to that list, too, because they hate the Avs. That gift PP resulted in Brock Boeser making it 2-0, ut it didn't end there. Refs decided to make up more shit to call on Wood and give Vancouver a four-minute power play. Even worse, they put Cale in the box because the refs are clearly hoping Quinn Hughes wins the Norris this year. We managed to kill all of it off, and later pull Blackwood for the extra attacker. All that did was allow Drew O'Connor to get the empty netter, and Demko completed his first shutout of the season.

You know what angers me about this? I mentioned Minnesota and Dallas earlier. Funny thing: they both lost! Yeah. Wild got shutout, and Dallas ended up losing. So this loss was a blown opportunity, and that's what angers me. As an Avs fan, I've been begging for Dallas and Minnesota to lose, but they haven't. They both do, but we don't find the net. Plus the refs fixed this thing to help Vancouver win. So we are still in fourth place, and still holding the #1 Wild Card position, but there is still a lot to go.

The Avs will be off to Alberta during the road swing; first off, a visit to Calgary on Thursday, followed by a trip to Edmonton on Friday. We don't face Vancouver again until the near end of the season.

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