hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
San Jose Sharknado Warning
This has been a wild NHL season so far. We are almost two months into this thing, and we've seen a lot of surprising things happen, even by hockey standards. I've been looking for a non-Colorado Avalanche story to write about from this season, and honestly, this wasn't the planned story I had in mind. Given the fact that I saw something that confirmed my suspicions, I had to write about the San Jose Sharks.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
New Month, Same Juggernaut
What a month of November that was! 13 games, won 11 of them, and our only two losses came past regulation. No regulation losses in November, and still only one regulation loss all season! But we are now in a new month, the month of December. The final month of the calendar year, but in the NHL, December ends the whole "it's early" vibe. December begins the NHL's transition into midseason form, with January placing the league at that exact part of the season.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
A November to Remember
I still remember January 2022. The NHL was coming off a mini-COVID outbreak that ended the 2021 calendar year, and in the second day of 2022, the Avs faced the Anaheim Ducks and won. Little did any of us know that it would be the start of a monstrous month that saw the Avs decide to not lose in regulation. As awesome as winning streaks are, and they are awesome, the point streaks are even more epic. Yes, they include losing in overtime or shootout, but teams who find a way to get points get a lot of notice.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
Perfect 10
I've been a Colorado Avalanche fans since the team's final three years in Quebec as the Nordiques. The Avs made the move in 1995, won right off the bat, and added a second Cup five years later. Right now, the Avs are coming off winning Cup #3, a beautiful dream season that, IMO, actually topped "Mission 16W" 21 years prior. I still remember so many things about that year so fondly: sweeping the Preds, Kadri's Hat Trick in Game Four against the Blues, Helm's goal in the final seconds, the insane West Final against Edmonton that was capped off by Lehkonen's OT clincher, the wild Final against TB, and especially counting down those final seconds.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
It's the Wood That Makes it Good
After a very successful and dominant homestand, the Colorado Avalanche hit the road for back-to-back games within the Central Division. First up, the Nashville Predators--first meeting of the season between the two clubs. I'm still amazed over the Preds winning in signing players last year. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault joining the team? To go with Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg? I immediately had the Preds being a strong force that the Avs had to deal with... and then last year happened.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
John Jay Moves to Semis with 2-1 Victory over Yorktown
See Photos at end On Tuesday October 28, John Jay hosted Yorktown in the quarterfinals of the sectionals. Their second meeting in ten days, Yorktown was looking for revenge after falling in an 1-0 overtime thriller. So taking an early 1-0 lead seemed like a pretty good idea but not according to Catherine Natko.
By Rich Monetti2 months ago in Unbalanced
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.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
3rd Time's the Charm
Who here had Tuesday's battle between the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Ducks as a battle between first place teams? The Avs leading the Central this early is no shock; a lot of the players on this team have "been there, done that" for the last few years. The Ducks, however, are another story. Anaheim hasn't experienced the playoffs since 2018. Think about how long ago that was. The Vegas Golden Knights debuted that year, and the Avs reached the playoffs in Game 82, starting our current playoff streak. Yet lo and behold, here are the Ducks, sitting on top of the Pacific Division.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Unbalanced
You Can't Spell "Dominate" Without "Nate"
Days after a close home win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Colorado Avalanche went across the border into Western Canada for a pair of games in as many days. First off, facing the Oilers in Edmonton. That is always an exciting affair. We all know the centerpiece in that game: MacKinnon vs McDavid. Two teams who played in three of the last four Cup Finals. This was going to be an epic matchup.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Unbalanced
John Jay Wins Sudden Death Thriller
See Photos at end of article On Thursday October 15, John Jay traveled to Yorktown and Coach Debbi Walsh didn’t have any illusions about what to expect. “Any time we play Yorktown, it’s a dogfight. That’s how it always has been, always will be,” she said, and 67 minutes of play proved her estimation correct.
By Rich Monetti3 months ago in Unbalanced
It's Like 2022 Never Ended
Coming off a two game Pacific Division road trip, the Colorado Avalanche returned home to Ball Arena for a Tuesday night game on TNT. Our opponents? A team very near and dear to us: the Tampa Bay Lightning. Three full seasons have passed since that magical Cup Final; the Avs facing the Bolts in a true clash of heavyweight titans. Lightning were looking to win their third straight Stanley Cup, but instead, it was the Avs winning Cup #3 overall--a six-game victory. In the time that has passed, the Avs have only advanced once, but that's one more than the Lightning, who haven't won a playoff series since the 2022 Eastern Conference Final.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Unbalanced
West Coast Swing
Coming off the big home win against the New Jersey Devils, which saw a five-point performance, as well as the best defenseman in the league picking up four assists, the Colorado Avalanche headed across the country to Pacific Division territory. First off, some big news broke entering that brief road trip: Martin Necas is staying in Denver. Eight years, $92 million. $11.5M/year cap hit. Necas was traded to the Avs last midseason; the deal that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes, who quickly dealt Rantanen to Dallas.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 months ago in Unbalanced
