Homestand Part I: Like Father, Like Son

The Colorado Avalanche were in a new position this season: we were coming off back-to-back regulation losses. The Avs' three game Southeastern swing didn't go our way. A win in Raleigh followed by back-to-back regulation losses in Florida; Panthers first, then Lightning. So that gave us a grand total of... four. Four regulation losses. Still very low. It lowers our win total pace, but honestly, I could care less about that. Yes, winning during the regular season is important, but what really matters is getting those final 16 wins in the end and being the last team standing. That is a feeling we experienced three times before.

Thursday saw the Avs back at home, and we will be on our home ice for the next seven games. That's a long homestand. Thursday was Game 1 of this homestand, and our opponents were the Ottawa Senators, who are coming off a surprise playoff appearance, but they are struggling, currently in the bottom of the Atlantic Division, but there is still some time for them.

Scott Wedgewood was in net against Leevi Merilainen, and the game was quiet at first. Trust me, it wouldn't be. On a face-off, Josh Manson scored first, and the assists came from Ross Colton and Brock Nelson. Both teams pressed, but later on, it was Nathan MacKinnon (who else?) who made it 2-0 after 20 minutes. What followed was a very massive second period, and to make it easier, our goals will featured the assisting players in parentheses. You'll see why.

Early in the 2nd period, it was Cale Makar (MacKinnon, Nelson) who made it 3-0. Shane Pinto put Ottawa on the board, and then they scored again, but it was ruled offside. Still, it was 3-1. That's when the real floodgates opened. Avs got a power play. We scored on it. Martin Necas (MacKinnon, Manson) getting his 20th. Mere seconds later, Brent Burns (Manson, Colton) struck. Avs had another power play which became 5-on-3 in mere seconds. In the two-man, Brock Nelson got his 20th (MacKinnon, Makar). The rest was killed off, but a couple of minutes later, Manson scored again (Drury, Bardakov). And at the near end of the period, it was Nelson reaching blackjack (Solovyov, Colton).

When the dust all settled in that middle frame, the Avs led 8-1. Six goals from the Avs in that 20-minute frame.

The Avs went on to win 8-2, a massive way to kick off the homestand. Nathan MacKinnon added another four points to his massive total, but the man of the hour was Josh Manson, who had a four point night of his own. Manson actually had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, and we all know what that is: a goal, an assist, and a fight. I still think it's interesting that it's called that, because Mr. Hockey himself hardly had that achievement. Manson's fight came early in the game, and then he had two goals and two assists. The crazy thing, his father, Dave Manson, had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick of his own during his playing days. It's very safe and awesome to see that the apple hasn't fallen far off the proverbial tree.

Part 2 of the Colorado Avalanche's homestand will take place on Saturday, and it will be against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a matinee matchup. It's good that the Avs are playing early on Saturday, because my mind will be elsewhere in sports for obvious reasons.

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