Welcome Back, Nazem Kadri
The Colorado Avalanche's deadline acquisitions play at home for the first time, one of them for the first time in four years
Some things just feel right, but more on that later.
Coming off a big road win in Dallas, the Colorado Avalanche returned home and faced off against the other thorn in the division: the Minnesota Wild. This was big day game for the Avs, not just because of the division rivalry, but the fact that the Avs' deadline acquisitions would be playing at Ball Arena. Scott Wedgewood was in net against Jesper Wallstedt, and the game was off to an amazing start. Avs were shooting at will, bringing some early pressure towards Wallstedt.
The first TV timeout came 6:57 into the first period, and it was during that moment that the Avs fans happily welcomed back Nazem Kadri. We all love Kadri. I've been a fan of his since he was with Toronto, and I always hated how people, especially Leafs fans, acted like his suspensions were all he was. He was a vital player for Toronto, but they didn't appreciate him. The Avs did. Still do. Kadri was a key player in our 2022 Stanley Cup run, and he was one of the three players I was the happiest for when we won (the other two being Darcy Kuemper and Nathan MacKinnon). We all wept when we couldn't keep him, and when we got him back, we wept happy tears. Some of us still are. I'm so happy that Kadri's back with the Avs!
A first period that saw two Avs power plays knocked off ended scoreless. We received a third power play in the first minute of the second period, but that was killed off as well. It looked like we could get goalie'd, but later in the frame, Nathan MacKinnon put it in! 43 goals for Mack. Only one player assisted. That player: Nazem Kadri. The last point Kadri had for the Avs was that OT goal in Game Four of the 2022 Final. The 1-0 score held up after 40 minutes, and an important stat was brought up. This was the 34th time that year that the Avs led after 40 minutes. Out of the 33 previous times, no losses. At all.
However, the Wild would a power play at 4:13, and just four seconds later, the game was tied. Guess who? Kirll Kaprizov. Of course it's Kirill the Thrill. Avs got a power play later on, and a 2022 Cup Champion did score on it. Unfortunately, it was Nico Sturm... with the Wild. Brock Faber got a hold of the puck and got it to Sturm, who did the rest. Avs down 2-1 and the penalty was killed. So was another power play we got later on. We needed something bad, and we would get it at 12:39, as Nicolas Roy scored his first goal with the Avs to tie it up! Brett Kulak and Joel Kiviranta with the assists.
The time ran down, and after 60 minutes, it was 2-2. Avs controlled the OT, but with 63 seconds left, MacKinnon was called for interference. Oh boy. Thankfully, that was killed off, and for the second straight game, the Avs need a shootout. Valeri Nichushkin scored after Mats Zuccarello was stopped. Matt Boldy tied the shootout, and Martin Necas was stopped. As I expected, Kirill Kaprizov was up for Minnesota, but he was stopped! Nazem Kadri was up for us, and imagine the story. First game back with the Avs and he wins it? Wow! Naz was stopped, resulting in a fourth round. Vladimir Tarasenko was stopped, but Nathan MacKinnon wasn't!
The Avalanche won, 3-2, over the Wild, via shootout, our fifth straight win. What a weekend! Back-to-back shootout wins against our two most dangerous rivals! Even better, Kadri picks up an assist in his return to the Avs, MacKinnon adds to his goal total, and the Avs continue to dominate. We are definitely ready to dominate this year. Once Landeskog and Lehkonen get back healthy, oh man! And next up for us is the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, also on TNT. A perfect opportunity for MacKinnon to move closer to McDavid in the Ross race, and to humble the Oilers yet again!
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About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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