Storm Hunters

After a tough 1-0 loss in Winnipeg, the Colorado Avalanche returned home to Ball Arena, where we would spent the next week. It's an interesting schedule we have in the month of November. After going back and forth between home and the road, the Avs have a four game homestand, followed by a four game road trip. The homestand began with Game 15 of our season, and it's our first of two meetings against our WHA brethren, the Carolina Hurricanes. And yes, that fact is true. The Hurricanes used to be the Hartford Whalers, and we used to be the Quebec Nordiques. Both teams started in the WHA in 1972, moved to the NHL in 1979, were foes in the old Adams Division, had hard luck years, relocated, and won Stanley Cups.

For the second straight game, Alexandar Georgiev (coming off his best performance of the season) was in net for the Avs against Spencer Martin, and holy moley, did we need Georgie in the first period. Hurricanes had the game's first power play, that was killed off. We received one, but just a few seconds later, it became 4-on-4. Because of all of this, the Avs had no shots on goal for the longest time. Even worse, the Canes struck first, and it was Jack Drury at 9:02, with the two Jordans--Martinook and Staal--assisting. And if that surname, Drury, is familiar to us Avs fans, it should be. Jack's uncle is Chris Drury--who gave us so many clutch goals and played a role in our 2001 Stanley Cup. We didn't get a shot on goal unti the 11th minute of the period. We did receive a full PP, that was killed off.

The Avs trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes, but it's only thanks to Georgiev that it wasn't 3-0. It looked like it would be one of those games that Georgiev would have to steal. Boy, was I wrong!

Avs received a power play just 36 seconds in the period, that was killed off. Minutes later, Jordan Martinook makes it 2-0 for Carolina. We needed something, anything. What we didn't need was a delay of game penalty. Though we may have needed it after all. During the PK, Cale Makar steals the puck, goes all the way, and shoots it in. A shorthanded goal, our first one of the season to get on the board! The rest of the penalty is killed off, and less than 30 seconds after the PK, Sam Malinski ties it up, with the assists coming from Nathan MacKinnon and Samuel Girard. So just like that, it was tied up, but we wouldn't enjoy it long. Seconds after tying the game, Malinski's in the box, leading to another Carolina PP. This time, it's the PP team who scores, and it's Martin Necas giving the lead back to the Canes.

Moments later, Nathan MacKinnon's about to break away, it looks like he's stopped, but he gets by, and puts it in to tie it up! Artturi Lehkonen and John Ludvig get the assists, and speaking of Lehkonen, as the Avs were pressing for the lead, Lehkonen gets the puck and faces a wide open net. As I'm watching this, I'm borrowing the late, great Carl Weathers' line from Happy Gilmore: "Just tap it in." I thought he did. He missed the net! I couldn't believe it. No one could! Another thing I couldn't believe: Mikko Rantanen got the puck from Toews, Moose shoots, and Lehkonen tips it in. So Lehky does it the hard way, because, well...the hard way got him to the Final. Twice. So the Avs lead for the first time, and Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour decides to challenge for Goalie Interference. Very minimal found, goal counts, and that results in an Avs power play that ends up becoming a five-on-three over a minute. The chances were there, Makar was robbed on one chance. The two-man ended, but Rantanen scores on the one-man to make it 5-3.

5-3 was the score in Colorado's favor heading into the third period, which saw the Avs press for another goal. The Canes also pressed, and it results in Martinook scoring a goal that I saw coming a mile away. Carolina cut it to one, and they were really looking to tie it, but that score was holding up. Martin was pulled for the extra attacker, and with 50 seconds left, Rantanen puts it in the empty net to ice it.

What a game! These are the Avs I know! These are the Avs I've been seeing for the last seven years, since this playoff streak began and included a Stanley Cup in 2022. Alexandar Georgiev was in superstar mode for about a period and a half, but when we turned up the offense, Georgiev didn't have to do as much, which is a good problem to have. Five goals in the second period. Another four points (G/3 A) for Nathan MacKinnon. Cale Makar with a shorthanded goal. Mikko Rantanen scores two in a game once again. Like I said: these are the Avs I know.

The homestand continues on Monday against the Nashville Predators, and after that, we host the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, and the Washington Capitals on Friday.

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