Recap San Jose Sharks @ Colorado Avalanche
As visitors of this site will come to find out in the near future, I am working on a novel. I sat down early yesterday morning and I had nothing. There was no flow and I struggled to get 50 words into the file. I should have known. It turned into a busy workday and an exhausted me by the time Toronto @ New Jersey started. There was not going to be a pre-game thoughts or a game journal, I felt terrible for pulling the ripcord. Then the Avs dressed down the Sharks and as I was watching I don’t think I would have had much to say while the game was being played. The star players said “we got this” and the game was won.
I feel better this morning, maybe I had a better night’s sleep and I have some thoughts now. While the Avs should beat a team like the Sharks, this game was played like it was the Avalanche players trying to erase the bad taste of the last few games. Star players were moving the puck, scoring points a looked in control the whole game. Now, it needs to be noted, the Sharks were playing the second of a back-to-back. I’ve b*tched about that and the Avs enough in the last week that when they are the beneficiaries, it needs mention.
Early in the game, Arrturi Lehkonen looked frustrated. I haven’t noticed him a lot on the ice recently. I’ve seen him on the forecheck doing his thing, but haven’t seen him leading the line past the bench when goals are scored. He looked like the frustration was starting to shop for rugs and other home decor in his head. I’m glad he found a way back to the front of the goal-line skate. What worries me is the facial expression after he scored his goal. I know everyone is hurt this time of year. Is he playing through something because the Avs have so many other players out?
Cale Makar gave an interview and alluded to the idea that he was the problem leading to team losses. How do the NHL gawds feel now after scheduling the way they have, AGAINST the Avs, and throwing the tidal wave of injuries on the Avalanche this season that they have made their Ice Lord and savior Cale “ConNorris” Makalder Makar feel like He is the problem? I will drop gloves for Cale, he is not the problem and he started the scoring festivities then he sent invitations to all his ice friends for them to score goals of their own. Cale can drive entire games, he can rise to moments. I feel great having seen a four-point game from Makar. Regardless of where the Avs land in the playoffs, knowing this version of Makar is there, ready to play, I am calm & cool for this stretch run.
Valeri Nichushkin was living in front of the net last night and it was great. Mikko scored a rage goal and it was great. Malgin sneaky good shot for a goal; depth scoring is great. MacKinnon is great. Georgiev got a shutout which is great.
This was the kind of bounce-back game you want and the kind you need against a team on their own double-header. We can all now take a deep breath and relax for the day. Well, maybe for the morning when I start looking at Pre-game thoughts for the Los Angeles Kings.
