Warm Welcomes, a Milestone, and a Hat Trick

The trade deadline for this season has come and gone, and the Colorado Avalanche's last deals came within the final 24 hours of the deadline. It was during the game against the Sharks on Thursday that the Avs traded for Brock Nelson, but after that, a pair of deals went down on deadline day. First off, Casey Mittelstadt was dealt to the Boston Bruins for Charlie Coyle, a move I thought was hella risky, but we'll see how it works out. Secondly, a very epic return: Erik Johnson was traded back to the Avs. He had been with the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers for a brief bit, but he's now back where he belongs. The first player to touch the Stanley Cup after Gabriel Landeskog is now back with the Avs.

So we have our new look team. Now it's on to business.

The Avs are still perfect on the current homestand. Four games played, four games won. Next up is a very tough animal in the form of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs play hardball. This is a team who has been dueling with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic, and they are still good enough to finish first in the division. Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Anthony Stolarz, and in just less than a minute, Valeri Nichushkin struck and made it 1-0! Ryan Lindgren and Josh Manson with the assists, a pair of blueliners with points already, but for Lindgren, this was his first point with the Avs. However, barely over two minutes later, Mitch Marner ties it up; Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews with the assists. It's 1-1 barely over three minutes in. Oh man!

Already I knew what kind a game this would be; it's always wild when the Avs and Leafs get together. At barely over the six minute mark, Nichushkin struck again. Two goals in barely over six minutes into the game! The assists: Brock Nelson and Sam Malinski. So three defenseman have a point each, and another new player gets his first Avs point, and it's Nelson. Nelson came close to having his first Avs goal later on, but John Tavares, off a turnover, was much closer--his shot went in. William Nylander had the lone assist, so already, the entire Leafs core is on the board. That's why they're making the big bucks. The Leafs would take lead for the first time, and it was Marner again. Bobby McMann and Matthews with the helpers.

So after 20 minutes, the Leafs led 3-2. Nichushkin had both goals, two new Avs had points, three Avs defensemen had points, while the entire Leafs core--the most expensive core in the entire league--had three goals and three assists. WOW!

In the second period, I found myself hoping for a power play for the Avs. We got one. The shots were there, but nothing went in. Then we got another power play. That was killed off. Leafs were really hanging on, then they received their first power play, and that was cashed in, and it was Tavares again. Matthews and Nylander with the assists. So that's four goals and five assists for that quartet; again, they are earning that money. Speaking of, seriously, the Leafs better pay Marner at some point, because they can't afford to lose him after this season. So the Avs are down two, but I was not worried. Moments after Tavares' goal, Joel Kiviranta cuts our deficit to one. Ross Colton and Malinski with the helpers, and that's two for the latter, while Kivi has goals in back-to-back games.

Avs trailed 4-3 heading into the third, and the Leafs were untouchable when they lead after 40. Boy, were they touched in this game! I had no worries as the period progressed, and no, this was not a shot at the Leafs. I would never hurl shots at the Leafs. This was faith in the Avs. I know my team. I know the Avs could strike big time at any given moment against anyone. This was one of those times. A beautiful pass to Jonathan Drouin led to the game being tied. The pass came from Charlie Coyle, and Colton had the other assist. So Coyle joins the club of new Avs getting a point. With all of this, and especially with the Avs going on the power play later on, a thought hit me: Nathan MacKinnon doesn't have a point yet. MacKinnon entered this game needing just two points to get to 100, and three points to get to 1000 for his career. He moved one point closer when he skated closer with the puck and shot it in, and that gave the Avs the lead back!

Martin Necas and Devon Toews had the assists, and for MacKinnon, it was point #99 for the season, and point #998 for his career. Stolarz was pulled for the extra attacker, but Cale Makar managed to pass the puck to Artturi Lehkonen, who sent it to Nichushkin, and out came the chapeaus! A Hat Trick for Valeri Nichushkin, officially his first of his career; his actual first Hat Trick came during last year's playoffs. Leafs decided to pull the goalie again because why not, and I see MacKinnon with the puck. I'm cheering for 100. I'm pleading for 100!

IT'S ONE HUNDRED!!!

The Avalanche won 7-4 after trailing 4-2 in the second period. Five unanswered goals--four of them in the third period! Valeri Nichushkin with a four-point night; he assisted on Mack's empty netter. Five Avs defensemen with at least a point. Three new Avs with their first points with the team. And then there's Nathan MacKinnon. The first to reach 100 points this season; his third straight 100-point season. Here's the scary part: the 100-point seasons came after his Cup. MacKinnon became only the second player in Nordiques/Avalanche history to record three straight 100-point seasons, joining only Peter Stastny on that very short list. In addition, point #100 this season for MacKinnon, is also point #999 in his 12 year career. He's one away from joining the 1000-point club.

As for the Avs, we've won five straight games, and we moved in to third place in the Central on Friday when the Minnesota Wild lost in regulation. We are now two points ahead of the Wild in the Central, and on Monday, we can sweep the entire homestand as we face the Chicago Blackhawks.

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