Pre-Game Thoughts before LA Kings @ Colorado Avalanche
Against the San Jose Sharks, the stars of the team led the way to a great bounce-back victory. Sure, this is a win you have to get. A team lower in the standings on their own back-to-back, get the win. I look at the way they won, the way they skated and moved the puck and it looked like the Avalanche team I know can win games in the playoffs. The schedule gave the team a breath, this victory against the Sharks gave me a breath and I need to use this moment in preparation for the race to the finish of the regular season. The race for the division is going to be a grind of scoreboard-watching and doing our part for the team. The next three games are a table setter leading up to the Toronto main event next week. The tallest hurdle of those three will be the LA Kings, tonight, in Colorado. Here are my pre-game thoughts
Star Player Momentum
The scoresheet in the last game was filled with stars and the Avalanche needed that to put some bad games behind them. I’ve not seen much from the team depth recently and I believe that requires the stars of the team to have to lead the way again until the depth can get going. The team depth did not surrender a goal against the Sharks but leads in the playoffs are precious and points from depth > holding the lead if another cup run is going to happen.
Get Artturi Going
I love seeing Lehkonen’s forecheck game after game. The work is there, but the goals, plural, are not. I would like to see him get rewarded in this game with another goal and get a goal streak going. The frustration is visible when the broadcast catches him during breaks in the action. The one goal he did score against the Sharks, the expression on his face was the same expression I have standing up from the pilates machine. Goals make everything feel better, as I’m sure we can all confirm. I would like to see Artturi scoring as we get closer to the playoffs, and secretly, I hope he is not injured.
Get My Mind Right
It was fun during the 6-game win streak and I felt like the division run to the top was basically inevitable. The hockey gawds felt my vibe and delivered a message of their own. This is going to be a hard run to the end of the season and through the playoffs. I need to get my head in a place for the grind to the end of the season in preparation for the fight that is the playoffs. Last year felt like “this is business” all year. I felt it and the team played like it. Time to get my fan mind back to grind and contain the excitement when things are good and take a breath when we hit a low. Unless we get good Landeskog news, then all excitement is allowed.
See you in the Game Journal! GoAvs!
