It was neither pretty nor perfect, but the Avalanche beat the Arizona Coyotes in their home-and-home contests over the weekend to gain an essential four points. With those two wins, the Avs are now in second place in the Central Division.
For a team at the bottom of the Western Conference, the Coyotes have reminded the Avs that a poor record does not ensure the win. In the four match-ups this season, the Avs went 3-1, with all three wins one-goal games, and two wins coming in overtime. On Friday night, the Avs hosted Arizona, and the first two periods felt like wading through mud. The Coyotes clogged up the neutral zone, and when the Avs did get through, Vejmelka was there to make the save with two impressive short-handed stops. Despite outshooting them 21-14 after two, and the score tied at one, the Avs kept their composure and kept pressing. After missing two games due to injury, Makar got the go-ahead-goal, and Compher topped it off for the Avs to win 3-1.
On Sunday, Arizona hosted the Avs at Mullet Arena, where the Coyotes share residency with the ASU Sun Devils. The NHL team found themselves without an arena after the city of Glendale, AZ, ended its relationship with the team, and the Coyotes then partnered with the Sun Devils to share the stadium through at least the 2024-25 season. The last time the Avs entered the collegiate stadium that holds 5,025 seats compared to Ball Arena’s 18,007, they lost 3-6. That was the game that kicked off their post-holiday hangover run on December 27th.
Through the first two periods, the Avs maintained control and looked poised to take the game with a 2-0 lead entering the third and outshooting them 23-14. However, as Coach Bednar said, “We kind of let off the gas a little bit and let them right back into it.” I wouldn’t describe the Avs’ performance in the third period in such mild-mannered language, but that’s why I’m not a coach (among many reasons). The Avs were outshot 15-6 in the third, blew their two-goal lead in one minute, then scored a powerplay for their 11th consecutive game to lead 3-2 with seven minutes remaining. But the desert dogs weren’t done. They scored to tie it at three and would send the game to overtime.
All aboard the Chu-Chu Train
Another five minutes of 3-3 play still wasn’t enough to determine a winner, and the game went to a shootout. It took seven rounds and 14 skaters for one team to get the puck past the goalie, and it finally came in the form of a chu-chu train. Big Val Nichushkin snaked it past netminder Connor Ingram for the 4-3 win. The longest shootout in NHL history went with the Panthers toping the Capitals in 20 rounds.
With the win, the Avs now have 92 points but are still without their #92. Captain Landy started skating with the team last week, but the likelihood of him returning before the playoffs is still questionable. The Avs are still short Francouz, Lehkonen and Manson. The good news is the list is shrinking. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Avs need to stay healthy and keep winning games. Though, if this isn’t always the goal, something is wrong.
The Avs don’t have a particularly grueling end-of-the-season schedule, but they do play Minnesota and Dallas for the final time this week. Minnesota leads the division with 93 points, and the Avs are tied with Dallas at 92, but the Avs have the tiebreaker of more wins and thus sit at no. 2. But first, the Avs will take on the Ducks tonight at 8 pm.
Three weeks and ten games in counting till the real season begins. Let the countdown commence. Are you ready?