Rocky Mountain Flex

The Colorado Avalanche kicked of a four game homestand with a nationally televised victory over the Pacific-leading Anaheim Ducks. That's one down, but three home games remain in this stretch. The Avs have been on a huge roll all year, with no signs of slowing down. This Avs fan is giddy as hell. We have been playing so well entering the remainder of our homestand, but even so, a lot can happen in three games.

So let's recap those three games, shall we?

Two days after beating the Ducks, we hosted the Sabres, with Mackenzie Blackwood in net against Alex Lyon. It took less than a minute to strike first, and it was Martin Necas yet again. Necas has a knack for scoring in the first minute lately. Artturi Lehkonen struck in the 6:10 mark, and that was it for Lyon, as the Avs had two goals on three shots. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entered, and shortly after Lehky's goal, the Sabres got on the board, and it was our old boy Bowen Byram. 119 seconds later, Brock Nelson made it 3-1, but Jordan Greenway scored later on.

Avs led 3-2 after 20 minutes, and Tage Thompson tied it on the power play. That tie didn't last long, as Gavin Brindley made it 4-3, and that was the score after 40 minutes. The third period was mostly quiet, and it was late in the frame that Necas netted his second, and later on, he got his second helper on Gabriel Landeskog's empty netter. The Avs won it 6-3 over the Sabres, behind a four-point performance from Martin Necas, continuing to show that he was definitely worth that big extension we gave him.

Next up was a Sunday night meeting with the Islanders, who are coached by a very familiar name to us Avs fans: Patrick Roy, the greatest goalie of all time. Speaking of goalies, Scott Wedgewood was in net against Ilya Sorokin, but the Isles struck first; Emil Heineman made it 1-0 just two minutes in. That score actually held up for the entire period. After Roy received a standing ovation from Avs faithful, as this is the Avs' 30th anniversary in Denver, the Avs took over the second period. Ross Colton tied it up, and barely over a minute later, Victor Olofsson gave us the lead. the 2-1 score held up after the 2nd period and beyond, with Martin Necas' empty netter in the final minute of the third period sealing it. And of course, Brock Nelson couldn't pass up the chance of showing up his former team, as he put one in late.

A 4-1 win for the Avalanche; putting us three-for-three in the homestand. In a rare moment, Nathan MacKinnon didn't have a point, but it wasn't needed. It was Wedgewood holding things down after giving up that first one.

The homestand ended with a Thursday meeting against the New York Rangers, and Wedgewood faced off against the great Igor Shesterkin. Rangers scored on an early power play, and it was JT Miller who put it in. The period was winding down with the Rangers up one, but in the final minute, Nathan MacKinnon tied it up! 1-1 after 20, and in the second frame, Adam Edstrom gave the Rangers their lead back. Late in the period, Cale Makar tied it up at two, and that was the score after forty minutes.

What followed was an Avalanche takeover. An early power play led to Brock Nelson giving us the lead for the first time, but in the heart of the period, the Rangers had the man advantage, and it was Miller again. Game was tied, but 30 seconds later, MacKinnon gave us our lead back. After an Avs power play was killed off, the Rangers pulled Igor for the extra attacker, but that allowed Makar to put it in the empty net. Ross Colton also did so when the Rangers pulled Igor again, and that was that.

Remember when I said I was giddy as hell? Now I'm ecstatic! Avs sweep the homestand to improve to 14-1-5 this season! We became the fourth team to have only one regulation loss or fewer in the first 20 games of the season. This year's Avs join the 1927-28 Montreal Canadiens, the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers, and the Chicago Blackhawks from that lockout shortened 2012-13 season on that short list. The 2012-13 Hawks are the only one on that list to have no regulation losses in their first 20 games. They're also the only one on that list to win the Stanley Cup. We are off to a better start than we were during our last Cup year. We are on pace to win 58 games and finish with 136 points, which would both be franchise records. The Avs are dominating in everything right now! It is absolutely spectacular!

Next up, the Avs will do some traveling, as we will have back-to-back road games against division foes in as many days. Saturday, we'll be in Nashville against the Predators, and on Sunday, we will be in the Windy City kicking Connor Bedard's ass yet again.

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