No, those aren’t my words, but the words from the New York Ranger’s announcers. It’s not often that I agree with the other team’s network broadcast, but this afternoon, I concur! The Avalanche defeated the Rangers 3-1 today, and have extended their winning streak to nine games, with MacKinnon having points in all of those games, as well has maintaining their home winning streak to eight games. This is the longest streak for the Avalanche in over a decade, as well as for the entire NHL this season.
To put things in perspective, last year the Avs won a total of 13 games at home and their longest wining streak was two games. Yes, you heard that right, two games. The 2016-2017 season was by far the worst season in franchise history, and it is with this remembrance of severe heartache that it has taken me awhile to warm up to the fact that perhaps the Avalanche aren’t actually so bad anymore. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say that the Avalanche are actually good. Really good.
They are so good that they have yet to lose a game in 2018. However, it is fair to say that the Avs’ impressive play had started well before we rang in the New Year. Their winning streak began on December 29th in an overtime victory over the Maple Leafs, and they have been rolling ever since. They have scored the first goal in the last nine games, outscoring their opponents 37-14, with MacKinnon having points in 13 of the last 15 games, who is en route to having the best season of his career as he is only three goals and seven points shy of beating his rookie year’s 24 goals and 63 point season. A large part of the team’s success can also be credited to Jonathan Bernier, who has been in net for eight of the team’s nine wins. Varlamov is still out due to injury, but his absence has allowed Beinier step in as No.1, where I think it is becoming clear he is deserved to be.
The Avs’ current play has me questioning if last season really happened. Were all those games that I was forced to change the channel out of embarrassment and disappointment real? Was it all a bad dream? If it was a nightmare, I just woke up sweating and heaved a sigh of relief realizing it was just a dream. Alas, those 22 wins and 48 points were not factious, but with 37 games still left to play, the Avalanche have already surpassed last season’s miserable record. So no matter where the Avs end the season this year, it can’t be worse that last year, and that is a win in my book.
The Avs will now embark on long road trip, where they will play the next 13 out of 16 games away from The Can, and will encompass the All-Star break. Let's hope that we can still being calling them "the hottest team in the NHL" when they return to their home ice territory. But until then, let's just enjoy the feeling of winning nine in a row.