Homestand Part II: Not-So-Usual Suspects

On Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche's long homestand began against the Ottawa Senators, and it was a slaughter. An 8-2 victory that saw the Avs put six pucks in the net during the middle period. Martin Necas and Brock Nelson each reached the 20-goal mark during that game, and the highlight was Josh Manson's Gordie Howe Hat Trick--two goals, two assists, and a fight, with his dad, legendary player Dave Manson, in attendance.

Next up for the Avs was the Columbus Blue Jackets, the second and last meeting of the season series. When we went to Columbus, we faced a Jackets team with chances of making it after falling just short. Now, they're in the bottom of the Metro, and it's not good. As for the Avs, we gave Trent Miner a shot in the net, and the game started tightly. It wasn't until 13:58 (usually an eternity for the Avs this season) that we broke the ice, and it was Brent Burns from Ross Colton and former Jacket Gavin Brindley. I want to say this. I wasn't expecting a lot of offense from Burns, but I was happy with getting him regardless. I knew the risks. Burns is 40 years of age; born nine days before I was. I was expecting him to do his thing, show off that beard, and get whatever points he can get, maybe get one or two in by now. That goal was Burns' seventh. He may end up with 20 this season, or at least 15.

At 17:28, Victor Olofsson made it 2-0, with the assists coming from Jack Drury and Parker Kelly. That was the score after 20 minutes. In the second period, we added another one, and it was a big first. Ilya Solovyov, who has been receiving some good playing time with us this season, put in his first NHL goal at 10:30 of the 2nd period. Kelly and Olofsson assisted. Jackets had a power play, that was killed off, and a second PP was knocked off as well. Score was 3-0 Good Guys after 40. In the 3rd, Avs had an early PP that was killed off, and later on, it was Mr. Burns again. Eighth goal of the season, second of the game. All that was left was the final countdown until...

The Avalanche won it, 4-0, and Trent Miner stopped all 29 Columbus shots to pick up his first career NHL shutout, an amazing performance. But take a look at the recap. Some names are missing. Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen, Cale Makar, Martin Necas. None of them were on the board. MacKinnon had a pair of penalty minutes, but that's it. This was all depth scoring. Brent Burns with two goals. Gavin Brindley, Victor Olofsson, and Parker Kelly with two points each. This was pure depth scoring. The kids, and the old war horse, took the game over. Burns has the game's GWG in this one. Absolutely epic performance by everyone involved!

So that's that; two in the books in this homestand, and we're two-for-two. We have five games left in this homestand, and it's going to be a wild one for sure. Next up, a Monday game where we welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. That is going to be interesting. It always is when the Avs and Leafs get together. I sense this upcoming matchup between these teams won't be any different.

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