- The Colorado Avalanche looked to bounce back after the horrendous finish against the Nashville Predators. Colorado needed to do it against the second-place Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver has become a young and fast team that is proving itself in the Pacific Division, as they rank second behind the Vegas Golden Knights. It became more of a showdown between Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. Who is better? But who would help their team more and win the showdown?
Offense
The Avalanche offense has not been struggling as of late. They converted on one of their four power play chances (one of them was only nine seconds long), and their puck movement in the zone has been excellent. While on the power play, the passes are on target and quick, making it so players like Nathan MacKinnon can get the shot off right away.
🚂🚂 Val Nichushkin with goals in five straight games. What a feed by Mikko Rantanen. #GoAvsGo tie it up on the power play and have power-play goals in five straight games. pic.twitter.com/PpYA0fHh5R
— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) November 23, 2023
Depth scoring
Once again, the Avalanche did not have to depend on players like MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen in order to do the scoring. Valeri Nichushkin scored a goal for the fifth game in a row. Miles Wood also earned his third assist in four games and started becoming more offensively minded. Jonathan Drouin buried his second goal of the season and Riley Tufte scored his first in an Avalanche sweater.
Miles Wood's shot from the point goes off Riley Tufte's leg and sneaks past Demko. #GoAvsGo jump back in front, 3-2 pic.twitter.com/XgShYwtV7a
— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) November 23, 2023
Makar-Hughes showdown
The argument outside of Colorado is that Hughes is better than Makar. We all know better and Wednesday night helped prove the point. Makar had a breakaway goal and an assist to Hughes’ single assist. Makar was also +3 to Hughes’ -1. Not to mention, Makar has also won the Norris Trophy for best defenseman of the year.
All. Hail. Cale. 🚨 #GoAvsGo needed that one after going nearly six minutes without a shot on goal. 4-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/h6KmXMq3vC
— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) November 23, 2023
Defense
The issue for the Avalanche was their defense. Samuel Girard missed the game because of personal reasons, so Caleb Jones stepped up. The defense had issues rushing the puck out of the zone, leading to extended shifts in their own zone. Vancouver’s first goal directly resulted from this and then the Canucks sent it directly on net for a rebound. In the second period, Josh Manson tried to avoid a crosscheck from Brock Boeser and Manson hit him in the face. The officials reviewed the penalty and called Manson for a five-minute major and a game misconduct, resulting in automatic ejection.
Josh Manson assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for this play. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/YakEFAaLeb
— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) November 23, 2023
Analysis
The Avalanche played a whole 60 minutes last night and that matters most. After the debacle in Nashville, they realized they can never relax. A fast-paced game to start slowed to a trickle because of penalties in the second, but Colorado could manage it. Makar won this round against Hughes and the Avalanche will go into Minnesota flying high off the 5–2 win.