Goals Under Review - Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche
Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have an easy schedule for the rest of the year. games like this, against a team “trying” to lose, are must-win. What are the Avs bringing to the rink today?
The first goal of the game was not a pretty goal nor an ugly goal. It was an event in the game that led to the puck going into the net for the Avs benefit. I’m sorry, I love MacDermid. He defends the team even when he isn’t on the ice, he is a large human being, easy to root for, and most importantly, his teammates love him. They are genuinely happy for him when he scores.
This shot was terrible and in the immortal words of Ruby Rod, “but who cares?” There is not much of a takeaway other than good teams don’t need more help and this was the luckiest of bounces. What isn’t luck is the save by Stalock on MacKinnon later in the period. Just an incredible save.
The next goal was scored near the middle of the second period. Malgin and Nichushkin run a great two-man play to the left of the goalie. Stalock gets caught far away from his crease and Malgin skates behind the defense and passed Stalock’s position on the ice to get a nice score from the short angle. A pretty goal from a player that isn’t “counted on” to be a regular scorer. Malgin is on a tear right now, please keep it going. The depth scoring we’ve been following with the Avs have been mostly consistent. They take a game off here or there, but they are getting on the score sheet enough to be noticed. In a game like this, when the depth is scoring, less is needed from the stars and less form them is more rest in general. rest is good this time if year.
Not to be left out of the party, Mikko Rantanen scores on a sick snipe to the top corner. Rantanen is good at hockey, that’s all the lesson we need to know. Within this game, the Avs are now up by three goals and this game feels over. Bednar can now cycle his lines for half a game and keep the ice times down for those who need fewer minutes on the legs.
The exclamation mark on the game was provided by Logan O’Connor and Dennis Malgin. They scored 14 seconds apart in the last act of the third period. One of these goals was a sick shot and the other was, well, an event that led to a puck being in the Blackhawks’ net.
This was not a “great game” but this was a great game to start this final push to the end of the season. The Avalanche are second in their division, one point behind Dallas with one game in hand. They will be even on games next Monday. They will be even with the Wild sometime in April. Every game matters and the stakes are home-ice advantage against teams that know how to play the Avalanche tough. This was a great start.
