By Jordan Long
The Colorado Avalanche’s regular season ended last night. Heading into the final 3 games of the year, all they needed to do was to win out to give them the NHL’s West Division and have a chance to win the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record and home ice throughout the NHL playoffs. A loss in overtime or regulation and the Vegas Golden Knights would be the #1 seed if Vegas won their remaining games.
Colorado faced the Golden Knights on Monday. They were down 1-0 after the 1st period but stormed back to score a goal in the 2nd and 3rd period to take the game 2-1. Now, all they had to do was to defeat the L.A. Kings on back-to-back nights to secure the NHL’s top record. On Wednesday, the Kings were no match for them as Colorado drummed them 6-0.
Thursday, Colorado decided to make a goaltending change. It was a surprise because Philipp Grubauer is their best goaltender. Most teams would play their #1 goaltender, especially since this was the biggest game of the year. Colorado hadn’t put Grubauer in net on back-to-back nights. Head Coach Jared Bednar kept it that way and went with Jonas Johansson.
Colorado came out with energy in the 1st period but couldn’t get a goal past Kings’ goaltender Troy Grosenick. With 45 seconds in the period, Sean Walker took the puck and went on a breakaway which he shot past Johansson to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. After allowing that goal, Johansson kept Colorado in the game. Colorado stormed back in the 2nd and 3rd period and put in 5 unanswered goals in the back of the net. Colorado came away with a 5-1 victory.
Colorado finished the year at 39-13-4 with a total of 82 points, the same amount as Vegas. Colorado is ahead of them in the standings because of regulation wins. Of Colorado’s 39 wins, 35 came in regulation. Vegas ended up with 30. Colorado is now the Presidents’ Trophy winner.
The Avalanche have been in this position before with the league’s best record. It didn’t mean they would skate away with the Cup. In 1997 Colorado was looking to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup. They finished with a record of 49 wins, 24 losses, and 9 ties for 107 points. Dallas and New Jersey were 3 points behind them for the NHL’s top record. In the postseason, Colorado advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, Colorado was knocked off by the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games. The Red Wings won the Cup that year.
In 2001, the mission was simple, “16 W,” which represented the 16 wins in the playoffs to capture the Stanley Cup. That team wanted to win the Cup for Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque. Bourque played from 1979 to 65 games into the 2000 season for the Boston Bruins. Boston went to the Final with Bourque twice in 1988 and 1990 but lost to the Edmonton Oilers both times.
The Avalanche acquired Bourque at the trade deadline in 2000. That year, Colorado lost in the Western Conference Finals in 7 games to Dallas. In 2001, Colorado finished at 52 wins, 16 losses, 10 ties, and 4 overtime losses for 118 points, earning the franchise its’ second Presidents Trophy. Colorado defeated the New Jersey Devils in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and finished the mission they started.
This year Colorado will have a target on its’ back heading into the postseason since they have the top record in the NHL. They know if a game 7 would happen, it will be in Colorado. The Avalanche hope this is a long playoff run capped off by hoisting the Stanley Cup like they did in 2001. At least now, Colorado has home ice advantage. Colorado will start their postseason against the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
Leave a Reply