It’s been far too long since I dropped a blog but I have been pretending to be an adult the past couple of weeks! Meanwhile; during my short hiatus, my Colorado Avalanche have started the season with an astounding 10 and 1 record! There is no way I can let the team start 10 and 1(Yea, I said it again!) without writing about it! So, I’ve decided to give my 5 main reasons (in no particular order) for this incredible start and the rocky mountain high us Avs fans have been on!
Reasons for the hot start???
1) Matt Duchene!! This seems like the year he becomes recognized as a superstar in this league! He has 9 goals and 13 points in 11 games; He only had 17 goals all of last year!!! Points aside; if you watch the games, he is probably playing even better than the stats show. Easily one of the most dynamic players in the league and his acceleration has been causing MAJOR problems for the defense he’s faced so far. His commitment to off-season training and his rejuvenation under Coach Roy has to be two major reasons for his early success. As the team’s top player, Duchene has clearly been a big reason for the team’s early success aswell.
2) Goaltending: When a team starts 10 and 1, you have to assume they are getting solid goaltending. That is an understatement when it comes to the Avalanche so far! Varlamov is 7 and 1 with a .945 sv% and Giguere is 3 and 0 with a .981% and two shutouts! Whenever the young Avs have needed a save, both of these guys have made it! Especially early in games or at times when the team is on their heels a little, both tenders have found a way to shut the door. Giving up just 16 goals in 11 games is unreal and obviously is a large reason for the strong start.
3) Team Defense: As good as the goaltending has been; a strong commitment to team defense has to get some credit for giving up less than two goals per game. The Avalanche do NOT have a single player in the minus through 11 games!! The defensemen have done a fantastic job of keeping it simple and getting the puck out of the zone while also minimizing second opportunities for the opposition. The forwards have been backchecking like dogs through the neutral zone right on back to the defensive end, forcing turnovers and breaking up plays. Having the leagues number one penalty kill also goes to show for a strong team defense and helps add to the win column.
4) Balanced Offensive attack: While Duchene has been a stud; the Avs also have 7 other players with at least 7 points through 11 games. They’ve been getting a consistent, balanced attack from the first line down to the third line, giving them depth that opponents struggle to match. Even the fourth line has had some of the team’s top shifts during games and John Mitchell has to be the best 4th line centre in the NHL. An 8th ranked powerplay and a blueline that has already accounted for as many goals this year as they did all of last year have also been key contributions to the offense.
5) Patrick Roy: Love him or hate him, the guy is a winner! He has taken the reigns of this team and turned them all the way around. He has brought back respectability to the franchise by reminding the players of the tradition and history that goes along with wearing the jersey. He doesn’t demand perfection but strives to get the most out of each player. There are no doghouses and no public bashings; things are handled behind closed doors and with each individual. He pays close attention to detail, is well prepared and has a plan in place for every team the Avs play. He has put a system in place that suits the players and appears to be able to make adjustments on the fly. His goal is to make the Avs a tough team to play night in and night out; knowing that if this is indeed the case, the team has a good chance of playing playoff hockey.
In saying all that, I’m not planning the parade just yet. There are multiple reasons to suggest this may not last the full length of the season: We have yet to really get into our divisional games against the likes of Chicago, St.Louis and Minnesota, we have yet to see how the team responds to adversities, will we be hit by injuries yet again?, is it possible for the goaltending to stay this good through 82 games? Etc,etc. The fact is; there are 71 games to go and the Avs are a longggggg ways from the postseason! However, any way you shake it, it looks like it’s going to be a fun ride in Denver for the first time in awhile!
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O'Leary's Outlook 