Brennan Vogt

Brennan is continuing to grow his career in writing and will join the folks over at MileHighHockey.com. He plans to do a lot of the same work that he did for us here, but will be in the press box a lot more. You can always find all of his links here and follow him on Twitter here. If you want to look back on any of his articles, you can find them all online, and you can find Brennan’s profile here.

Savvy Rafkin

Savvy will take this opportunity to take some time away from writing. She will still follow the Avalanche and Eagles, though, with just as much passion. If you would like to keep up to date on what she is doing, you can check her links here. You can also continue to follow her on Twitter here. The same thing applies to Savvy. We will keep all of her articles online for you to read if you would like to here.

Chloe Wright

Chloe is eager to get back at it and has accepted a position as a writer with InsideTheRink.com. She will continue to cover the Avalanche and Eagles there as well as all things hockey. Her links will continue to develop so you can keep up with her here. She will be very active on her Twitter, which you can follow here. Unfortunately, she had little time to write a lot for us, but you can find those articles here.

So long does not mean goodbye

Every one of them deserves our thanks for the effort they put forward for The Rink. We know they put in countless hours of work for us and we cannot thank them all enough for it. We wish them all luck in their future endeavors, and for now, this is The Rink Colorado signing off.

The post So long does not mean goodbye appeared first on The Rink.

What went right?

Jason Polin

Polin opened the scoring for the Eagles tonight on the power play with a one timer in the slot. “Obviously it’s nice to see the puck and then see the red light, but it’s a great pass by Tynan,” Polin said. “Anyway, I can help the team win. It’s what I want to do, and unfortunately, it didn’t work out the way I wanted tonight, but we’ll bounce back.” Polin also drew several penalties with his aggressive play. This put the Eagles on the power play and shifted the game their way.

Jason Polin rips his first goal of the year with a dandy from the slot on the PP. Assists from Olausson and Tynan. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Klxp282eHv

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 13, 2024

Jayson Megna

The Eagles brought Megna back to Colorado this year after playing for the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. He showed exactly why the team named him captain in these last two games. Megna has led through leadership and example. He has been one of the few players on the forecheck and creating chances shorthanded. In two games, Megna has secured two assists with hard work.

What went wrong?

Power play

Last night, I said that the power play was showing they had some chemistry already. The unfortunate part is that they cannot convert on their chances. Over the first two games, the power play unit has only converted twice in 14 chances. It is a young season, they still have a lot of time to figure it out, but the Eagles had a conversion problem last season too.

Great fight here in the 3rd between Onyebuchi and Middleton. Onyebuchi actually stops the fight after Middleton's face gets cut. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/qGqJYKFND7

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 13, 2024

Conclusion

Over two games, the Eagles have shown that they are a much faster team than last season. They still have some grit with players like Matt Stienburg and Keaton Middleton as well. So this will be an interesting season to watch as we get to see GM Kevin MacDonald’s work all come to fruition and institute the Colorado Avalanche system. The Eagles will not play again until next Friday against the Abbotsford Canucks at Blue Arena in Loveland.

Interviews

The post Special teams play vital role in Eagles’ first loss appeared first on The Rink.

For a moment there was hope, as Ross Colton brought the Avalanche within one with the net empty and more than a minute remaining on the clock. However, the officiating decided that the game would not be headed to overtime because of a highly questionable call against Casey Mittlestadt, which iced the game. Columbus scored an empty-net goal on the ensuing power play, punctuated by Nathan MacKinnon shattering his stick over the bench whilst screaming at the officiating crew before storming to the locker room.

For only being the second game of the young season, this was about as ugly a loss as you can get for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. In the cinematic-inspired format of the good, the bad, and the ugly, we will analyze the key takeaways from tonight’s losing efforts.

The Good

Ivan Ivan Scores first career point

How about some palette cleansing positivity for Avalanche fans? Rookie Ivan Ivan looks right at home, centering the fourth line and played a standout game in the losing effort. Ivan recorded his first point, assisting MacKinnon’s power play goal, and beneath the surface played among the best game of any Avalanche skater. Looking at the advanced analytics shows you just how good the rookie was. Check out the names he is lining up with at the top of this chart.

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Colorado Avalanche on 2024-10-12:#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/cVCU9VJky9

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) October 13, 2024

MVP

Nathan MacKinnon received his MVP trophy from fellow MVP (of the NBA) Nikola Jokic to start the festivities this evening. He then became one of the lone bright spots for the Avalanche on the ice. One goal and one assist doesn’t do justice to the back checking, highlight reel effort from the reigning MVP. MacKinnon was all over the ice and in a game where his goaltending supported him, this would have been a win because of Nathan MacKinnon.

MacKinnon Jokic

MVP MVP MVP pic.twitter.com/g66EfTb6zt

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 13, 2024

The Bad

The Josh Manson and Sam Girard pairing

As you may have deduced from the chart in the above section, it was a terrible night for the Avalanche second-defensive pairing. Manson was arguably the Avalanche’s best defender in the opener against Vegas, but came crashing down in the home-opener and was easily the worst. The pair was minus two on the night and while goaltending let the Avalanche down, the two goals against that weren’t on the goalies were firmly on the Manson/Girard duo.

You can see here Annunen making two saves to bail out the rush, but both Manson and Girard being out of position leads to multiple follow-up chances that eventually become the game-winning-goal.

YES! YES!
( sound on!)@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Z3L1IQCVn6

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 13, 2024

Failing to cover their man in front of the net, selling out for checks and pinches, leading to odd man rushes, and lacking defensive zone awareness. The second-pairing rollercoaster needs to climb back up next game.

The Ugly

Goaltending

Critics frequently target Avalanche fans for their excessive criticism of starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. Even after a Hindenburg style performance in net tonight that saw Georgiev pulled in the second, coach Bednar responded in the post-game presser by saying,

“I get that there is a level of frustration, but Georgie is our guy. He is our starter.”

While you can appreciate the sentiment of a head coach trying to get behind his locker room, we need to face facts. Here are the expected goals comparison for this game (per NaturalStatTrick).

We can dig deeper into the statistics. In the season opener against Vegas, Georgiev allowed five goals on 16 shots, prompting the coach to pull him and resulting in a save percentage of .688 with an expected goal against of only 1.20. Tonight, Georgiev got pulled by the coach after giving up three goals on nine shots, resulting in a save percentage of .667%. Was the defense worse tonight? Nope, actually they were better only allowing an expected goal against of 0.74. Turning less than a goal against into three goals is bad, but turning in an identically terrible effort two games in a row is a call for change. As Rita Mae Brown famously said in her novel, Sudden Death (1983),

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Starting Georgiev has become that insanity.

This goal just can’t go in. Georgiev needs to find his game ASAP

pic.twitter.com/LjkhvPHEN6

— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) October 13, 2024

Backup Justus Annunen had a rough night in his own right. Against Vegas he gave up two of the four shots he faced, and he gave two more goals tonight in a larger sample. Standards shouldn’t be the same for these two, as one of the hardest things you can ask of an NHL goaltender is to come in cold in the middle of a game that is already going against you. The first goal Annunen surrendered was bad, but the bad you honestly expect from a young goalie who didn’t get to warm up. The second is from the clip above and is solely the fault of a defensive breakdown. As the game went on and Annunen warmed, he improved quite a bit.

Annunen finished with a .846 save percentage and allowed two goals on 1.13 expected goals against.

The obvious choice for Colorado is to have Justus Annunen start the next game against the New York Islanders. We will see whether coach Bednar is adhering to the same definition of insanity we all are then.

The Avalanche welcome former legend Patrick Roy and his New York Islanders to Ball Arena Monday night, October 14th, at 7:00pm MT. Coverage will be provided by Altitude.

The post Avalanche fall 6–4 to Columbus in home opener appeared first on The Rink.

Penalty kill

The penalty kill was on point tonight. Despite a discipline problem, with seven penalties in the game for the Eagles, the kill unit did their job. There were several times that Eagles forwards caught the Roadrunners off guard and rushed up the puck. Ondrej Pavel, Jayson Megna and Matt Stienburg all had breakaway chances. Stienburg converted on the shorthanded rush. “He handled probably the bulk of the penalty kill for us,” said head coach Aaron Scheekloth. “He made a lot of strong reads, and just like on his goal at the end of his shift, he sees Megna create a lot of time and space in the slot, and he finds just enough legs to get there and get good poise on the collection, and finds open spot. I thought he was strong.” Tucson would only finish the night one for seven on a great night of killing.

They just had to break the ice! Matt Stienburg rips his first for the year and shorthanded!!!!! Assists come from captain Megna! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Pc4VCnuaZA

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024

Power play

The power play unit was strong even though it converted once in seven chances themselves. There was confidence in moving the puck and they did it with ease. Jacob MacDonald would score the first goal of the year on a power play for the Eagles. There was an unfortunate play in the third that Jean-Luc Foudy took a hard crosscheck during a power play. He did not return to the game. After the game, I saw Foudy walking around in the hall with no limp.

In triumphant return, Jacob MacDonald breaks the shutout and gets the 1st Eagles' goal of the year on the PP. Assists came from Phillips and Tynan. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/ft55SlgA4m

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024

Conclusion

There were few things that went wrong for the Eagles’ home opener tonight. I could say that it went almost as planned. The Eagles won 3–1 and saw a fast team hit the ice with only a week and half of practice under their belt. Compared to last season, this team is much faster, going in line with what the Colorado Avalanche has built in the NHL. This team will be fun to watch this season. They play again on Saturday night against the Tucson Roadrunners in Loveland at 7 PM.

Matthew Phillips scores down low with the assist coming from Nikita Prishchepov, his first pro point! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/ppwGOK7KDZ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024

Interviews

The post Eagles win home opener appeared first on The Rink.

There were lots of variables for the team. Calum Ritchie and Colorado Eagle starter Ivan Ivan both took to the ice in an Avalanche jersey for the first time. Several fresh additions to the roster were adjusting to the Colorado style of play.

On top of this, the Golden Knights are a tough opponent and allow little room for error.

First period

Dynamic duo Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen opened scoring halfway through the first period.

MacKinnon Rantanen #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/cPkBg5ciwu

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 10, 2024

The promising start was a relief after a very bumpy preseason road.

However, the early jump wouldn’t last for long. The hungry Vegas team came to play and exploited every mistake the Colorado squad made.

They answered Rantanen’s goal about 30 seconds after he scored, tying the game at one. For good measure, they then scored back-to-back to leave a two-goal lead to end the first frame.

A look at the tying goal… #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/9Y1PvBSzQm

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 10, 2024

The second of Vegas’ 3 goals for the period. https://t.co/kx5aFdxfTD

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 10, 2024

The third goal… 25 seconds after their previous. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/jADLCTmMbo

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 10, 2024

There were no penalties in the first 20 minutes, which was becoming a startling trend ahead of the season. Concerningly, it means the goals scored by the opposition were a product of defensive breakdowns and a struggling goaltender.

Second period

Colorado caught a break about five minutes into the second frame. MacKinnon drew a penalty for tripping, and he then contributed an assist to Rantanen’s goal to bring the team back within two. Cale Makar picked up an assist.

Power play magic#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/pnRhDXPBvY

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 10, 2024

Again, the break didn’t last, and the Golden Knights lit the lamp once again.

With the help of Samuel Girard and Josh Manson, Casey Mittelstadt netted a goal toward the end of the period, once again sparking hope of a close game.

Mittsy nets the rebound!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/IjaIoAkhNX

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 10, 2024

At the 18-minute mark, Miles Wood took a seat in the box for boarding, leaving his team at the disadvantage. Again, the home team took the gift and converted, increasing the margin and ending the period ahead 5–3.

Third period

Colorado put Justus Annunen in the net to relieve Alexandar Georgiev in the final 20 minutes. Georgiev’s spotty performance has been a source of disagreement through his tenure in the burgundy and blue. He is a strong goalie, but often struggles to come up big when his team needs it.

The Golden Knights had a waived goal and headed to the box for high sticking, putting the Avalanche to the advantage.

One second after the power play ended, Rantanen scored his third goal of the night and recorded a hat trick on opening night, joining Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in Colorado history.

Mikko Rantanen appreciation post. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/uY5HM6mke5

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 10, 2024

Again, the positivity did not last long. Devon Toews received a double minor penalty and forced his team to play shorthanded for four minutes.

Two seconds into the power play, Vegas netted their sixth goal of the night with another two minutes to go.

They drove the final nail in the coffin on an empty net, finalizing the 8–4 result.

Takeaways

The loss results from compounding many avoidable mistakes.

Between broken down defense, unnecessary penalties, and struggling netminders, it’s a miracle that the score wasn’t worse.

While it is easy to place the blame on goaltenders, the defensive struggle of this game was a nearly absent presence in front of the net. Even the best netminders need help in preventing goals from the opposition.

Relying on the offense to carry the team is not a sustainable strategy, nor is it a common occurrence for the Avalanche.

The team will suit up for their home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The post Avalanche fail to meet expectations in 8–4 loss to Golden Knights appeared first on The Rink.

We have signed forward Nikita Prishchepov to a three-year entry level contract.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/VLIX4xrhSk

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 6, 2024

The trade

Yesterday the Avalanche picked up John Ludvig on waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Everyone knew it was going to lead to something else. Well, that happened just over 24 hours later with a trade. Colorado traded Erik Brännström to the Vancouver Canucks for Tucker Poolman and a 2025 fourth round pick. Vancouver will keep twenty percent of Poolman’s salary ($500,000) and Colorado will place him on long-term injured reserve. This will free up about two million dollars for the Avalanche. Poolman has not played a game since October 2022 because of a head injury and his career could very well be over.

Olausson (closest) and Prishchepov (both in white) are paired together for the moment. Prishchepov has had a little trouble keeping the puck on his stick but showing some speed. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/NcGrgycQNz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 2, 2024

Nikita Prishchepov

Only a couple of hours later, Colorado signed Nikita Prishchepov to an entry-level contract. He joined Colorado after being drafted this last summer in the seventh round, 217th overall. Prishchepov jumped out during the Rookie Faceoff and continued to impress during training camp. He was the only player going into the camp with no contract and made it obvious that he wanted to earn one. He showed he can be strong, have a great foundation for the game and play at the dot well. However, Prishchepov is still a very raw prospect. He will report to the Colorado Eagles to start the season.

The shootout thread!
Nikita Prishchepov#Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/kzNiw09nx5

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 5, 2024

Conclusion

Overall, the Avalanche came out on top today. They cleared room in a salary cap that will be tight throughout the season and gained a draft pick. This also makes Sam Malinski’s spot more secure as the sixth defenseman. Colorado also secured some much needed depth in Prishchepov. He will get some more time to develop under head coach Aaron Schneekloth and associate coach Dan Hinote. I am impressed with the moves that Colorado has done today and it will only help the salary cap all season long.

The post Avalanche wrap up busy day in the office appeared first on The Rink.

We all know pre-season results aren’t important. What matters is which players made a case for cracking the lineup on October ninth in Vegas for the season opener. We are going to look at the biggest risers and fallers with the preseason finally behind us and speculate on the last few tough choices the Avalanche need to make.

Risers

Ivan Ivan

Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko will grab the lion’s share of attention as Avalanche rookie phenoms, but Ivan Ivan has been the most consistent NHL caliber rookie this preseason. Ivan’s forecheck causes turnovers, crashes, grabs rebounds, and produces in a very Logan O’Connor kind of way. I think Ivan is an obvious choice for fourth-line center starting the year, if coach Jared Bednar will trust a rookie in that spot.

Ivan scored from Joel Kiviranta’s rebound in the first period for the lone tally of the night. There were four other solid goal scoring chances for Ivan by my count. He was very noticeable all over the ice. The young forward did everything you could ask to prove he belongs in the bottom-six for this team.

Putting the biscuit in the basket! https://t.co/deYOChlEht pic.twitter.com/EwYHMvsHY5

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 5, 2024

Sam Malinski

Being penciled in alongside Calvin de Haan as the third pairing defender is exactly where Sam Malinski has earned. Malinski’s stellar preseason finished in a solid, if less flashy, effort that showed why the pairing from tonight will probably draw in for opening night.

Fallers

Alexandar Georgiev

Alexandar Georgiev found his stride for stretches of the second period, but that first period goal is the stuff of nightmares. Rust is definitely still the reason as it is Georgiev’s second start of preseason, but letting in very soft early goals was a trend all last season and in the playoffs. This goal:

Dylan Guenther has such a nice shot#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/pQtMvRswbC

— Cap’n Cook (@JazzePinkman) October 5, 2024

Is about as soft of a five-hole as you will see from an NHL starter. With Justus Annunen showing out in his last pre-season game the questions about whose net this should be will start early for the Avalanche.

Chris Wagner

It feels a bit like salting an open wound, but Chris Wagner was struggling in this game. Already waived with reassignment orders to the Colorado Eagles, Wagner drew into the lineup, seemingly to give  Nathan MacKinnon a night off. Seeing Wagner playing with Kelly and Ivan solidified his position in the organization. Wagner isn’t ready for this NHL roster, but should injury strike, he is a less desirable version of some other bottom-six players they kept instead of him. Wagner has a dominant presence and will be valuable to the Eagles this year.

The top-six bubble: Nikolai Kovalenko vs. Calum Ritchie

The toughest decision to make when assessing the young talents on display for Colorado is which talented rookie will chase Calder glory in the Avalanche top-six.

Neither really pulled away in what was a very slow and physical game against Utah. That leaves the comparison the same as it has been. The more physical Kovalenko to replace Valeri Nichuskin’s forechecking? Or the electric puck movement of Ritchie to replace Gabriel Landeskog’s power play and offensive production? The answer likely will be a mix of both. Don’t expect to see a winner before the season. The Avalanche will have a nine-game trial period with Ritchie’s entry-level contract before they have to decide whether to keep him in the NHL or send him to juniors in Oshawa. Based on what we have seen from Ritchie so far, I expect he will get that nine game sample to show he belongs before they make that choice.

The time for preseason is now, finally, over. On Wednesday, October 9, at 8:00pm MT. The Avalanche open the season in Vegas to face the Vegas Golden Knights, nationally broadcast on TNT with streaming on MAX.

The post Avalanche lose final preseason game 2–1 to Utah HC appeared first on The Rink.

Finally, with only two games remaining before regulation play, the Avalanche secured their first victory over the Vegas Golden Knights 3–1, who they previously fell to in a 6–1 defeat.

The good

Colorado rapidly picked up the speed of play, especially after their last match. Passes were connecting, communication improved, and Justus Annunen held down the net beautifully.

Jonathan Drouin led off the scoring in the first period, getting help from Nathan MacKinnon and Calum Ritchie.

29 27 https://t.co/hei4zLFsf2 pic.twitter.com/ZF9IjXegQi

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 4, 2024

It is promising to see not only the expected players producing goals but also help from recent additions to the roster.

Sam Malinski also made his presence known on the ice. He spent considerable time with the team in the 2023–2024 season and has consistently fought for his spot in the lineup.

Malinski certainly looks ready for regular season… #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/GnGYlTUaAA

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 4, 2024

He scored in the second period to bring Colorado to a two-goal lead. Parker Kelly and Logan O’Connor picked up assists.

In stark contrast to Tuesday’s game, the team significantly cut down on penalties, only accumulating three.

The bad

Even though the play was an improvement from the previous four games, there were still a few rough patches needing work before the stakes were higher.

While penalties had significantly decreased, Vegas’ Jack Eichel capitalized on the power play and brought the score back within one goal.

Power Play Eichel pic.twitter.com/wgRKyYPsVx

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 4, 2024

Within the first seven seconds of the second period, the Avalanche drew a penalty, only to give up the power play by sending their own player to the box for holding four seconds later. Colorado couldn’t convert on either of their power plays.

Only seven seconds into the second period, the #Avs draw a penalty for slashing.

Four seconds later, Colorado goes to the box for holding.

4-on-4. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 4, 2024

The presence of youth on the roster and an unusual lineup may contribute to some of this.

This game was much better in the sense of giveaways, but they only took the puck from the Golden Knights twice.

What’s next?

The team will play the Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) on Saturday, before facing the Golden Knights for their season opener on Oct. 9.

The post Avalanche hit their stride, end preseason losing streak in 3–1 victory appeared first on The Rink.

MacDonald returns home

Jacob MacDonald did a stint with the Colorado Avalanche and Eagles from 2019 to 2022 before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. MacDonald became a fan favorite in Loveland, wearing the captain’s “C” for a season. When he was given the opportunity to sign as a free agent with Colorado “when I found out I had an option to come back, my wife and I spent the summers here,” MacDonald said. “So this is home for us. And had an option: come back and stay at home. It was a pretty easy decision.”

MacDonald and the organization

MacDonald knew he was part of a rebuild in San Jose, but to have the chance to sign with a winning organization was too hard to pass up. “Hopefully that was beneficial to some of those younger guys there,” said MacDonald. “But yeah, like for me personally, I wanted to be in an organization that’s pushing for wins and winning hockey games at every level. So for me to go along with coming home, it’s kind of a check.”

Prishchepov continues to impress

Nikita Prishchepov was the Avalanche seventh round draft pick from this summer. He came to the development camp and rookie camp and stood out in a good way. So far, he does not have a contract, but he is hanging on, fighting for a chance to earn one just like Ivan Ivan last year. “Prishchepov has kind of elevated himself into a position where he got some games at rookie camp and had a strong performance there,” head coach Aaron Sneekloth said. “Then he took the next step at Avs camp and got some exhibition games. And now he’s joining us at camp.” So he has caught the eye of the coaching staff.

Olausson (closest) and Prishchepov (both in white) are paired together for the moment. Prishchepov has had a little trouble keeping the puck on his stick but showing some speed. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/NcGrgycQNz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 2, 2024

Conclusion

Nothing is for sure with making a team, or staying on it for that matter. But MacDonald and Prishchepov are doing everything they can to stick around and make an impact. MacDonald will probably be part of the leadership group just like he was before. Prishchepov is a story that I will continue to follow. But the kid has looked good so far and could earn his place here in Loveland this year.

The post MacDonald could not pass up chance to come back to Colorado appeared first on The Rink.

Sunday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) exploited some hiccups to address in the upcoming season.

With the game against the Vegas Golden Knights being the debut for many of the regular-season starters, there was much to look forward to in the matchup. Emerging with a 6–1 loss after six unanswered goals and a game littered in penalties, there are several things standing out.

Vegas takes a 5-on-3 advantage. In the first 7 minutes, there's been four total penalties…#GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 2, 2024

The good

Newcomer Jare Innala cashed in on a power play goal early in the first period, immediately securing a lead for Colorado.

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both picked up an assist, proving business as usual is right around the corner.

A look at Innala’s goal… #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/7c5wYgEhbC

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 2, 2024

Nikolai Kovalenko also had a good showing, displaying great puck control and driving pressure on both ends. His appearance on the top line might foreshadow what the regular season holds, especially in Valeri Nichushkin’s absence.

The bad

A common theme for both the Avalanche and Colorado Eagles last season was the impossible task of staying out of the penalty box.

This Achilles Heel once again became apparent as the team committed four minor penalties in the first period, resulting in two 5-on-3 situations in favor of Vegas. The Golden Knights claimed their tying goal on a delayed penalty call.

Here’s the goal that put Vegas up 2–1. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/UQAHDNuiYg

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) October 2, 2024

Though Colorado was not the only team finding themselves on the repeated penalty kill, they were the team who struggled to capitalize on their opportunities.

As reflected in the score, the team had no way of stopping any sort of momentum Vegas had gathered. Knowing this, it may be an easy way to nip the “second period curse” the Avalanche seemed to have last season.

Through 60 minutes of play, Colorado had 19 giveaways. One particularly bad turnover led to another goal on the unfavorable side of the scoreboard.

What’s next?

The Avalanche will hit the road to take on Vegas on Oct. 3 and will conclude the preseason run with Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 5.

The post Avalanche remain winless after 6–1 loss to Golden Knights appeared first on The Rink.

Ivan Ivan

Ivan Ivan is a player that I have watched grow into a stronger skater and shooter in the past year. At first last season with the Colorado Eagles he was kind of timid and now with the confidence, he has become aggressive. Ivan will come to the play a lot more now and steal the puck in the offensive zone, creating more chances. Ivan showed he will get below the net on the power play and keep the plays going. The progression in one year has been unbelievable and we could expect possibly a late year call-up for Ivan at this rate.

Samuel Girard throws it down low to Ivan for a gorgeous one timer to Wood and the PP goal and the 1-0 lead. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/y55sZk8zCj

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 29, 2024

Justus Annunen

Justus Annunen did a great job in first preseason performance, giving up only one goal in 15 shots. Tonight was a different story. Annunen stayed in the entire game despite seeing a rough second period and shaky defense. He saved 32 out of 37 shots on goal for a .865 save percentage. Two out of the three goals that he allowed in the second looked as though they were complete flukes. Annunen may have lost sight of the puck, which is troubling since the goalies work on puck tracking every morning. Goalies have poor games indeed, but this looked like a man out of the zone completely.

Cameron Hebig tosses it on net and throws Annunen off to take the lead #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/PaBWqh6xMV

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 30, 2024

Oliver Kylington

Oliver Kylington may be the odd-man out on defense at this point. With Sam Malinski performing so well during the preseason, this may leave no room for Kylington on the opening roster. He has performed well, but has not stood out as much as Erik Brännström or Malinski. The Avalanche do not want to put Malinski on waivers and risk losing him. They could not take that risk. There was a play in which Kylington shut down an odd-man rush, but other than that, he has not popped out to me.

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Colorado Avalanche on 2024-09-29:#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/vcyDOd87QP

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) September 30, 2024

Conclusion

Do not overreact to the losing streak. I cannot say that enough. These are a mix of NHL, AHL and junior players that have had little time to play together. These games do not count and we have not really seen any of the top-six forwards play. I am not the least bit concerned over the 6–3 loss and the losing streak. I love getting extra looks at the AHL players and prospects though. We can probably expect more NHL level players to roll into the lineup next game. The Avalanche will be back at it on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights in Denver at 7:30 PM. The game will air on TNT.

Cal Ritchie goal alert!!!! Ritchie with a heck of a fake shot and the sweet backhand shot for the finish. Malinski and Brännström on the assists #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/SYiOcfnrVi

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 30, 2024

The post Avalanche suffer third straight loss in preseason appeared first on The Rink.

Keaton Middleton

Keaton Middleton is in the last year of his two-year extension and appears that he does not want another one. The lumbering defenseman has been slow to get to the corner on almost every play. Middleton’s reach has been the big thing that has worked for him, but his skating has improved little since last season. With the defensive core being so deep this season, I unfortunately do not see Middleton getting a call-up based on his performance over the first two games.

Sam Malinski

Sam Malinski solidified his spot on the Avalanche roster even more tonight with a play in the game. Malinski was diving in front of pucks to block shots and setting up passes down the ice for the offense. During the power play, Malinski showed he could run the unit and have it succeed by working the puck around the zone. He definitely made it a harder decision for the coaching staff after tonight to send him to Loveland.

what a block by Sam Malinski on the penalty kill #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ptwnRHZ7Lc

— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) September 28, 2024

Kovalenko with some hussle and gains his second assist of the night as Parker Kelly powers a shot past the goalie #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/efkbTKUutS

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 28, 2024

Nikolai Kovalenko

Nikolai Kovalenko had two assists tonight, one of them while on the power play. We saw the style of play that we were expecting at the end of last season from Kovalenko. He was crashing the net and creating chaos down low to help set up the power play goal for Ivan Ivan. His rushes to the net reminded me a lot of a smaller Gabriel Landeskog. We even saw sparks of his speed throughout the game. Kovalenko was not playing his natural center position, but he adjusted well on the wing, making a case for the opening night roster.

Ivan Ivan gets a beautiful setup on the PP from Kovalenko after some great movement from the entire unit #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/6xOrftFKr4

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 28, 2024

Conclusion

It is the preseason and a couple of losses are nothing to get upset over, especially in the first two games. Considering that the Avalanche fielded an AHL roster tonight and still put up a fight was impressive. It gives us hope for what the Colorado Eagles may have brewing in Loveland, putting together a solid roster themselves. Malinski and Kovalenko showed us what the young talent on this team can do, and what we should be excited about. The Avalanche will be back at it on Sunday night in Denver against the new Utah Hockey Club at 5 P.M.

The post Avalanche fall short 4–2 in second preseason game appeared first on The Rink.

Altitude finally has a fix

As of this morning, Altitude has announced that they have partnered with TEGNA to provide 20 games for free from local channels 9 and 20. Just like in the old days. These broadcasts will still appear just as if they were on Altitude, just being shown for free from local television stations. This will be beside the 17 nationally televised games already in place this upcoming season.

BREAKING: Altitude To Offer New Streaming App and Locally Broadcasted Games on @9NEWS and KTVD20

https://t.co/0e4wsy2pc2 pic.twitter.com/FST8B0kkrF

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) September 26, 2024

The app we have all been waiting for

Several teams have come up with apps to download on your device and watch the games that way. Altitude has had an app available in previous years, but you had to be subscribed to the channel to get access. Those days have ended. Altitude+ will now be available to everyone in the nine state market for $19.95 per month. There, you can watch the channel just like normal. This will be an option to catch EVERY game other than the nationally broadcasted games.

Mark it on your calendars!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RKBQCuc7JJ

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 26, 2024

Conclusion

The team has finally acknowledged the voices of the fans. They will have an option to watch the team, no matter what cable subscription you have, for the first time in nearly five years. It may not be a perfect option, but considering the circumstances, it is a start. This could be a lasting option that we will see for upcoming seasons and beyond, but this is an option that could make everyone happy.

Have questions? Check out facts graphic below!

And head to https://t.co/g7tGbdn5dQ for more information. pic.twitter.com/QVxofefjqF

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) September 26, 2024

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Well, preseason hockey anyway. The first official (though not-counting) Colorado Avalanche game of the year saw Ball Arena host the Dallas Stars. Avalanche faithful from all-around tuned in to watch most of this game. I say most because ESPN+, the only provider broadcasting the game outside of the Dallas market, ended coverage near the start of the third period.

The Stars went ahead early on a 5-on-3 power play, but the young Avalanche stormed back in the second period to seize a 2–1 lead that held until late in the third. Heartbreak would come as a tied game became a defeat, with just .2 seconds remaining on the clock when a scramble in the crease saw Dallas put the game away as the buzzer sounded.

Losing a preseason game doesn’t matter. We all know preseason hockey is primarily about earning your spot on the final roster. As such, we are going to look at the biggest risers and fallers in terms of the stock each player who stood out has in making the final cut.

Risers

Calum Ritchie

All eyes were on the rookie from Brampton, Ontario, who has been easily the most lauded rookie for Colorado since Alex Newhook. Unlike Newhook, Calum Ritchie looks primed to make a major impact on the Avalanche roster in his first season. Ritchie displayed an active and athletic forecheck, including a few big hits. That’s exactly the effort coach Jared Bednar seems to look for from younger players. Ritchie also displayed his elite vision and passing as he scored the second goal of the game on the power play. Ritchie wired what would have been a third straight beautiful pass across the crease that then deflected from a Dallas defender and into the back of the net. First goal? Check. Now Ritchie needs to keep rolling throughout camp and the remaining preseason games to show the coaches why Cal isn’t just short for Calum. It could be short for Calder, too.

That deflection though https://t.co/Ko4B4hRhWY pic.twitter.com/jeOu4QUiqF

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 24, 2024

Matthew Phillips

Most Avalanche fans considered Matthew Phillips, the AHL/NHL “tweener,” an afterthought when the team signed him near the end of the off-season. Not so after tonight. The 26-year-old, undersized, winger has spent the last four seasons between the AHL and stints with the Flames, Penguins, and Capitals. Is Colorado where he catches on for a depth role? If nothing else, tonight shows that Eagles’ fans will have an exciting player on their hands. Phillips flashed game breaking acceleration and incredible touch on the puck during his action in the first preseason game. While the first goal belonged to Phillips, the coaches might focus more on the routine “effort plays” he showed nearly every shift. Diving for loose pucks, throwing the body on guys thrice his size, and forechecking in the neutral zone to create turnovers were all on the menu for Phillips. He played like he knew he would have to earn every minute of ice time he gets, and he wasn’t wrong. Earn that time he did.

First goal of the preseason! https://t.co/Sz9Ej4wW11 pic.twitter.com/lyzkkWf9NB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 24, 2024

Justus Annunen

Justus Annunen saved 14 of 15 for a total .933 save percentage in his first half-game of the pre-season. Although a goal was given up in a five on three, it is warranted to dig deeper into Annunen’s performance to see just how good he was. Annunen faced eight high-danger chances (compared to Trent Miner facing just three in the second half of the game) and saved seven. That included this eye-watering leg extension to rob a sure goal.

That leg extension #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RHeWLoAfcK

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 24, 2024

Annunen picked up right where he left last year: looking like the best goalie on the Colorado Avalanche.

Fallers

Calle Rosen

I don’t think any of us really expected Calle Rosen to compete for the NHL roster in his second stint with the Eagles. Rosen took several gruesome penalties and punctuated the time he spent on the ice with multiple turnovers. Rosen will provide the Eagles with quality, veteran depth but someone had to be in the fallers category. If we see Rosen in an Avalanche jersey looking like he did in this game, then something has gone very wrong with the health of other Avalanche defenders.

Keaton Middleton

Keaton Middleton provides grit and physicality to the AHL defensive corps. He was very physical, but if you are coaching, you certainly hope to see more, as you would say, legal physicality. Middleton didn’t take the most penalties in a penalty filled game, but he took the ugliest. Middleton is still the player he had been in previous Eagles appearances, but this is likely where his chances of cracking the NHL roster end.

Conclusion

Don’t overreact to the preseason, but if you do, then instead of looking at this game as a loss, Avalanche faithful should see a promising young crop that is going to challenge for playing time in the show. The Avalanche are back in action on Friday in Dallas for a rematch at 6:00pm MT. The game is scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+, but hopefully they will broadcast the entire match this time.

The post Avalanche lose preseason debut 3–2 to Dallas Stars, Ritchie shines appeared first on The Rink.

LOC'd in for six more years

We have signed Logan O'Connor to six-year contract extension!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/SeMEoRPKY0

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 23, 2024

Earning his way

O’Connor played three solid years with the University of Denver Pioneers and won a national championship in 2017. After that, the Avalanche invited him to take part in their development camp that summer. He would impress the team so much that he earned himself a contract with the Avalanche and forgo his fourth season with the Pioneers.

The #GoAvsGo signed Logan O'Connor to 6 year $2.5M Cap Hit extension (in Yr 3/3 $1.05M Cap Hit Deal).

Yr 1 3M
Yr 2 2.25M
Yr 3 3M
Yr 4 2.75M
Yr 5 2.2M
Yr 6 1.8M

All salary. Year 1-5 6 team no trade clause, Yr 6 4 team NTC

Rep'd by @alroy42 @rsghockey https://t.co/eDBiIC9q3H

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 23, 2024

The Colorado Eagles were the main team where the gritty forward spent his rookie season. In 64 AHL games, O’Connor tallied 42 points. This would earn him five games of NHL time in his first season as a pro and put him in the conversation for the roster the following year.

The mayor of Denver is here to stay #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/yBR5gnxQ5e

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 23, 2024

The conversation gets real

The sophomore season for O’Connor would lead to 16 games played with the Avalanche in 2019–20. He even would score his first NHL goal, ending the year with two goals. It was in Loveland where he shined once again. In just 40 games with the Eagles, he tallied 25 more points. The 2020–21 season O’Connor became a permanent fixture on the Avalanche and has not looked back since. He has since played 220 games and added 34 points to his career total. Not to mention he won the Stanley Cup in 2022, beating Tampa Bay in six games.

Put pen to paper #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/jLmQnPxTK2

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 23, 2024

Conclusion

O’Connor has made it obvious that he loves this town by signing his third contract with the team. The fans love him as well. He has become a mainstay on the Avalanche through hard work and determination. The former Pioneer was never drafted onto the team, as coach Jared Bednar said, “you want a spot, you earn it.” Well, O’Connor certainly has done that.

The post O’Connor extended six more years for Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

Here are the groups for the final day of #Avs training camp #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/7jguMPvkSt

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 22, 2024

Cuts

The Avalanche ended day three yesterday with a few cuts to the roster by reassigning some players. The Avalanche reassigned Max Curran to his junior team, the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. We expected it since the fifth-round pick from this year hadn’t signed a contract yet. The others all had AHL contracts and were not much of a surprise: Neil Shea, Briley Wood, and Garret Pyke.

We have announced the following transactions:

Neil Shea, LW, Briley Wood, C, and Garrett Pyke, D have been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles American Hockey League camp.

In addition, Max Curran, C (Spokane – WHL) was reassigned to his junior club.

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 21, 2024

Jere Innala

Jere Innala was signed by Avalanche earlier in the summer to an entry-level contract and will play his first season in North America. During skate sessions he has impressed me with not only speed, but his shot as well. Innala has a knack for finding the open ice at the top of the slot and setting up for a one-timer. Today, when he was pinching into the lower slot, he kept his head up the entire way. This helped him avoid the traffic in front of him and get the shot off. He had started on the bubble for me, but has firmly put himself in the fight for the fourth line in the last few days.

Oliver Kylington

Oliver Kylington was a late arrival at camp because his equipment arrived later than he did. But he hit the ice on day two and has not looked back since. He has been great on the zone exits and is an enormous body down low. Kylington has not hesitated to hit players when they were in his space, no matter who they were. I like him as a second or third pair for the Avalanche this season.

Injury updates

The team has ruled out Artturi Lehkonen, who had off-season shoulder surgery, from the season opener on October 9th. He has been practicing on his own for some time now, but has taken no contact. Forward Ondrej Pavel, who sustained an upper-body injury on October 16th in the Rookie Faceoff, has been skating on his own. He could not grip a stick with his left hand at all, so I would expect him to be out for a minimum of four weeks.

I have been watching Pavel closely and suspect he has an arm or hand injury. He hasn't gripped the stick with his left hand once since stepping on the ice. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/tt0vT7grJa

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 22, 2024

Lehkonen is getting the power back in shot for sure. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/pUA2HqySi1

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 22, 2024

Conclusion

The next two weeks will be fun to watch (if you can find a stream of the game). With a lot of players fighting for the bottom part of the lineup, the competition just among the Avalanche will be interesting. Not to mention, the storyline of when captain Gabriel Landeskog will make his triumphant return. The tight salary cap will make the moves from this point forward very interesting for the team as well. Just hold on everyone…. this season will be fun!

The post Avalanche wrap up training camp; prep for first preseason game appeared first on The Rink.

Pierre-Édouard Bellemare

Pierre-Édouard Bellemare is the only player here on a professional tryout. As a former member of the Avalanche 2019–2021, it may give him a leg up on the younger players trying to make the cut. Since before camp, he has been all out, playing the body and not the puck (even taking down Cale Makar). At age 39, he may have lost a step, but is doing his best to keep up with a fast group. The Avalanche could use his skills at the dot and on the penalty kill, so a league minimum offer would not be a bad idea. As a team player, he could teach his skills to other players before he leaves.

Here’s Bellemare chatting with Parker Kelly about faceoffs. Those two might be in direct competition for the 4C job. https://t.co/CDEwsRNyMx pic.twitter.com/cbVJ9ufDeS

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) September 21, 2024

Sean Behrens

Sean Behrens popped today. He understood drills and executed them with ease. Behrens did not let the heavy play get to his head at all. When the puck was flying around boards, Behrens could keep it in the zone with no issues. His experience from college was showing in his first professional camp. Now, this does not change my mind that he will stick on the Avalanche roster this year, but he could see himself as a call-up. Behrens told me he has a modest goal this year, “to be in the conversation for a call-up to the Avalanche.”

Sean Behrens gains entry and Cal Ritchie sets Matt Stienburg up to one-time it into the open net. pic.twitter.com/5TwJggv4H7

— Meghan Angley (@megangley) September 16, 2024

Nikita Prishchepov

Nikita Prishchepov has shown some surprising speed through the two days of training camp that I have been here. This makes it easier for him to get around the corners when breaking in on the zone and get a shot off. He had a few exceptional moments to make him stand out among the second group skating today. One moment was when he drove around a defenseman and then sniped a corner on a diving Adam Scheel. At this point in camp, without a contract in hand, he will report to his QMJHL team, the Victoriaville Tigres. But, he may be something to look forward to for Avalanche and Colorado Eagles’ fans next year.

The shootout thread!
Nikita Prishchepov#Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/kzNiw09nx5

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 5, 2024

Conclusion

Bellemare is someone that I am cheering for both as a writer and as a fan. A player putting off retirement for one more chance at the Stanley Cup is something special. If he makes the squad, the only concern is that there is less playing time for someone like Parker Kelly. Watching the Eagles group, it sparks some excitement for the prospects that are in the system. Behrens may make his NHL debut this season and the fans can’t be more excited about it.

The post Coverage from day three of Avalanche training camp appeared first on The Rink.

Jack Ahcan

Jack Ahcan may not have a chance for the top-six defensemen, but he is sure trying to impress while he is down in Denver. The 5’ 8” blue-liner was in the right spot during all the drills. Despite his size, he was pushing around the bigger forwards, maintaining his spot on the ice. He gets down and uses that low center of gravity to his advantage. On top of this, Ahcan will provide an offensive punch for the Eagles. He scored 38 points in 70 games last season, regularly placing himself among the top five in scoring on the team.

Some great feet by Ahcan on the right end and then Malinski and Weinstein on the other #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/rKdIOdtAF4

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 20, 2024

Nikolai Kovalenko

Nikolai Kovalenko made it look easy today, scoring on almost every shot that he took. In the second group, he was among one of the fastest on the ice and can lay a hit from time to time. Kovalenko’s wicked wrister is deceiving and can throw goalies off. People have highly expected his arrival in the system because of his development in the KHL. Kovalenko will be one of the may forwards that is the battle for the fourth line of the Avalanche.

Nikolai Kovalenko showing out again. Gooood start to this camp

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) September 20, 2024

Jayson Megna

Jayson Megna is coming back to the organization on an AHL contract but looking to earn himself a two-way deal. Today he showed his speed off on a line with two players that he will probably play with in Loveland. Anytime he got the puck, though, he made sure that the coaches knew with a “ping” sound as he hit the back of the net. In the simple scrimmage, Megna showed a hunger for the puck that not even the rookies had.

Jayson Megna keeps sniping the bar in the back of the net…. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 20, 2024

Conclusion

Although two of these plates will not likely see the Avalanche roster, it is fun to see their competition and drive. Training camp brings out something in players that you normally do not see during the regular season: the drive for a job. Really, there are seven roster spots available and it is up to every single one of the bubble players to impress to a point that they gain one. Tomorrow, I will be right back at Family Sports Center for day three of training camp to catch the next update!

The post Coverage from day two of Avalanche training camp appeared first on The Rink.

Seeking a win before heading home, there were obvious struggles to overcome.

Their opponent, the San Jose Sharks, was running on a two-win momentum, and it showed. A 6­–3 beating was evidence of work to be done.

The struggle in the last two games was discouraging for players and fans, despite not counting toward the overall season record.

The good

The young guns of the Avalanche team excelled defensively in the first period, with Matthew Stienburg and Benjamin Brunelle scoring a goal each.

A peek at the Stienburg goal… #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/KnFjq9j8V9

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) September 16, 2024

Colorado had several good entries into the zone and began consistently putting pucks on the net in the third period.

Keaton Mastrodonato was successful in lighting the lamp in the middle of the third frame, claiming the only Avalanche goal in the final 40 minutes.

The bad

The Sharks headed to the box several times with their aggressive play, leaving Colorado with the advantage. While capitalizing on the first power play, they fell short on four others and gave up a shorthanded goal.

San Jose forward Nolan Burke takes advantage of an unattended net in the second period, opening up scoring. The shorthanded goal and tied it up 2–2. Colorado goalie’s oversight marked the start of a challenging game.

Burke takes advantage of goalie error, tie game! pic.twitter.com/RJyeV9GnCE

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 16, 2024

The second period was a mess. Two consecutive penalties left the Avalanche with a 5-on-3 disadvantage. Two unanswered San Jose goals prior to the penalties rattled the rookies. The disconnect on the ice turned into another goal from the Sharks, making it three unanswered goals and putting them ahead 3–2.

The middle 20 became open season for the opposing roster. Another goal made it 4-2 with no signs of stopping.

Colorado also had a problem with spending time in the box. The Sharks quickly gained a two-man advantage as they swiftly followed one penalty with another. They capitalized twice.

A 6–3 final score was evidence of Colorado goalie Adam Scheel’s crumble under pressure. The rest of the team struggled to support him in the defensive zone, often leaving him the only one to protect the net.

Takeaways

Regardless of records during rookie showings, the most important takeaway is the experience and development of the young players as they move through the Avalanche system.

Identifying strengths and weaknesses of each individual player during game situations is invaluable. It became increasingly clear that there is a certain level of scramble once a Colorado opponent gets momentum.

The season is long, allowing ample room for rookie growth. The Avalanche preseason debut is on Sept. 23 against the Dallas Stars.

The post Avalanche rookies suffer 6–3 beating in final Rookie Faceoff game appeared first on The Rink.

Ivan Ivan faceoff win, Max Curran feeds Bryan Yoon and Yoon gets puck on net for Jason Polin to chip home. pic.twitter.com/wVZpkEn5MI

— Meghan Angley (@megangley) September 15, 2024

Ivan Ivan

— After playing the entire season with the Colorado Eagles, Ivan earned himself a NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche. During game two of the Rookie Faceoff, Ivan flooded the slot and kept throwing rubber on net. During one power play chance, Ivan had three shots alone. He dug deep in the corners, something I know he has been striving to be better at, and caused a couple of turnovers. Ivan will be a sight to watch this year in Loveland with a real chance to fight for a spot on the Avalanche roster next year.

Ondrej Pavel

— Ondrej Pavel continued to show exactly why the Avalanche and Eagles love him. Pavel is extremely aggressive on the forecheck and it comes into play on the penalty kill. Today, Pavel did a lot of that. He pushed the forecheck hard and stole the puck to create breakaways. He plays a lot like Logan O’Connor and has the same speed bursts that O’Connor does. The Czechia native made his NHL debut last season and could be in the running for a call-up this season for depth.

Matthew Stienburg

After being originally drafted 63rd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Matthew Stienburg did not join the Avalanche system until 2022-23. Today, Stienburg played to his strengths. He got around the corners and created chances and added physicality. Trying to turn the tide in the Avalanche’s favor, Stienburg dropped the gloves in the second period and won the fight. The Canadian has a reputation for being physical and using both his body and fists. He adds a bit of sandpaper whenever he is in the lineup. I do not see him making his NHL debut soon, but he was impressive today.

FIBIGR WHAT A SNIPE! pic.twitter.com/FCvmJkiB1Z

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 14, 2024

Conclusion

It is important to remember that these games do not count. Colorado struggled on the power play without Oskar Olausson and Calum Ritchie in the lineup today. The hope is that by watching these games; it shines a light on some prospects. The few that I highlighted today were just a few who played well, but it gives some hope for the future.

The post Standouts from Avalanche game two loss in Rookie Faceoff appeared first on The Rink.

Hockey is back on the menu! With the regular season less than a month out, the Rookie Face-off tournament is here to showcase the future of the Colorado Avalanche. Friday night saw the baby Avalanche taking on the Anaheim Ducks rookie squad in the first of three games.

A largely even rookie game saw the Avalanche fall short 4–3 as Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier torched the baby burgundy and blue. Callie Clang held the young Avalanche off the board through the first period and much of the second. Despite a valiant comeback effort spearheaded by Calum Ritchie (more on him below), the Avalanche rookies fell just short. Below are the important points from an exciting and fast-paced first game broken down via the frame presented in classic cinema: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good

Calum Ritchie: All eyes were on the young Oshawa Generals star drafted 21st overall by the Avalanche in last year’s entry selection. He did anything but disappoint. All three Avalanche goals saw assists from Ritchie, with the first two being primary assists.

His first assist saw him possess the puck on the power play down low, drawing in three Ducks defenders, and then wiring a gorgeous apple to Jason Polin for the easy tap-in.

Things we love to see!

A look at Polin’s goal #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/KoGD46Vfig

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 14, 2024

Ritchie’s second primary assist saw a set-play where Ritchie won the face-off (music to Colorado fans ears) directly to Oskar Olausson for a rocket into the back of the net.

Cal Ritchie won the draw and Oskar Olausson sailed it home. pic.twitter.com/4b3BaHHDRm

— Meghan Angley (@megangley) September 14, 2024

Overall Ritchie’s line controlled play, back checked well (zero goals against), and looked like the only line in Colorado’s 21st ranked prospect pool that could compete with Anaheim’s first ranked squad.

Sean Behrens: Behrens is the only defender on the rookie roster most Avalanche fans will be familiar with by name, and he showed why. Behrens ran the power play and did a fantastic Cale Makar impression of the job with an assist. He was consistently noticeable with the puck on his stick and controlled the defensive zone well. Behrens seemed like the only Avalanche rookie defender really able to process odd-man rushes at speed and broke-up three such chances. The one blemish on Behren’s first game might sit for the final 1:49 of the game in the penalty box for a trip. That said, it seems like Cutter Gauthier is inflated with helium in the minds of the official who made that call, so I feel confident putting him here.

The Bad

Defenders not named Sean: The other five defenders on the ice for Colorado looked positively over matched by the speedy rookies in Anaheim’s class. The speedy rookies in Anaheim’s class repeatedly hemmed in the third pairing of Mitch Young and Connor Mayer, resulting in both of them allowing ugly goals against. There was a disastrous sequence where second pairing defenseman Garrett Pyke were caught standing still at the blue line when the puck had already been chipped past center ice. This left his partner Bryan Yoon alone in a two on one break and Yoon looked like a deer in the headlights. Instead of protecting his netminder by taking out either man, Yoon skated backwards slowly and then half-dove to prevent the cross-crease pass that had already been made. Marek Howell had the best day, but was almost invisible save for the penalty he committed. Not good.

Sidorov

He buries the cross-ice pass from Cutter to make it 4-2! pic.twitter.com/t84Fj0Hupn

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 14, 2024

Rilen Kovacevic: The fourth line right-wing for the rookie Avalanche sure had himself a night. Kovacevic found himself wide open on a breakaway early, only to wire it directly into Callie Clang’s pad. Gauthier burned him multiple times and he couldn’t get back in time to help the defense. He finished his night by taking two bad penalties, both of which were provoked by Anaheim players whom Rilen was jawing with all night. It’s rookie season, and this was certainly an immature performance.

The Ugly

The third goal against: Gauthier was very good. Rookie goalie for the Avalanche Vinny Duplessis was well on his way to making “the good” until the third goal happened. Gauthier came into the corner just beneath the goal line and sent the puck to the net, hoping for a crashing teammate. Instead, the puck hit the inside of Duplessis’ skate and deflected right into the back of the net. Rookie goaltending at its purest.

Cutter

His centering pass bounces home to put us back up two!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/wDqhDUDJ74

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 14, 2024

That’s a wrap for day one of the Rookie Face-off. Tomorrow the rookies face-off against the Seattle Kraken rookies at 4:00 P.M. MDT. You can stream the entire rookie tournament for free on Coloradoavalanche.com.

The post Key Takeaways as Avalanche Lose First Game of Rookie Face-off appeared first on The Rink.

We have invited Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to training camp on a Professional Tryout (PTO). #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/E4JAnT1MLg

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 11, 2024

Situational

PEB has a proven track record of being a great penalty killer. Colorado has had some recent struggles with the penalty kill, so why not bring him back? This could be less time that Cale Makar will have to spend on the ice, so that would be even better.

The fourth line has some question marks on it. PEB could offer some forechecking power and a little of offense to mix. When he was with the Avalanche in his prior stint, PEB provided 22 and 11 points playing on the fourth line. Also, the salary cap will be an issue throughout the season for Colorado. IF PEB signs a contract, they could get him on the cheap, possibly around the league minimum mark.

bruins @ avalanche 10/10/2019

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (2nd of season)

(31st of career) pic.twitter.com/fRmgPZH9De

— random avs goal every day (@avsgoaleveryday) November 8, 2022

Could this be just for training camp?

One thing that came to mind right away for me was, could this be just for training camp? In the six games that the Avalanche play, they have to suit so many veterans (see section 15.4-c of the CBA). Could the Avalanche be bringing on PEB to avoid having to play their part of the roster in camp?

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare with a GORGEOUS one-time shot! 3-1 Avalanche!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/7Svla0xpgx

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 1, 2021

Conclusion

PEB has always had one thing that young players seem to lack these days. He has a personality. PEB is a known prankster in the locker room and loves to play around during warm-ups to lighten the mood. The Avalanche may just need this back at the beginning of games to help them go into games with a better mindset. The salary cap will be tight, but the penalty kill needs a PEB back in it.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was crushed to find out they won’t actually be playing on Lake Tahoe… pic.twitter.com/VGrU4ydtZs

— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) January 12, 2021

The post Avalanche have signed fan favorite to PTO appeared first on The Rink.

Sean Behrens (#GoAvsGo) with a thunderous open-ice hit on Macklin Celebrini pic.twitter.com/8MMFekaXQG

— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) April 11, 2024

Avalanche defensive depth

The Avalanche are going to be deep in the defensive position this season. The offseason signings of Jacob MacDonald, Calvin de Haan, Oliver Kylington, Calle Rosén and Erik Brännström definitely helped with that. Not to mention, Behrens was going to be in competition for the last spot if none of these signings happened with Sam Malinski. The former Cornell captain may have had the upper hand simply in the one year of experience that he has in the NHL (23 games with the Avalanche).

AND THE PIOS CONNECT!

Tic-Tac-Goal by Sean Behrens to give DU a 3-0 advantage.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/HWdc7Lj8qN

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 3, 2024

Adjusting to the professional season

One thing is for sure, the professional season is far different from the college season. To start, players play about twice as many games (40–45 games compared to 70–80). Playing every other night compared to twice a week can take a toll on your body. Especially someone as small as Behrens’ size (5’ 10″ and 176 lbs). Samuel Girard, who is roughly the same size, has said that he will lose up to 20 pounds in one season, making him even smaller. Behrens will have to figure out how to maintain his weight and keep it on for the entire 76-82 game season.

Sean Behrens with the assist on the OT winner for DU! #GoAvsGo #GoPios pic.twitter.com/z6uwvXHz8f

— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) April 12, 2024

Gaining experience

With a three-year entry-level contract, Behrens will have time to gain experience in the AHL and make the change. Peter McNab always said that it took about 200–300 games to really start getting the defensive game at the pro level. With three years of NCAA hockey under his belt, the hope is that Behrens will need less than that.

As discussed on @fanhockeylife, Sean Behrens is one of the most unheralded pieces of the stacked University of Denver Pioneers. He has 23 points in 30 games. The Avs have themselves another solid defender. pic.twitter.com/uPrYeT8FAn

— Fantasy Hockey Doctor – Victor Nuño (@VictorNuno12) February 19, 2024

Conclusion

With such a deep defensive core and time to develop him, there is no need to rush Behrens. The one year at the AHL level will only do good for him. His style suits the Avalanche and he dropped into the Eagles with no problem. Watching him play those two games with the Eagles, he adjusted quickly, but Behrens admitted that the speed of the AHL was a shock at first. Hopefully, the Avalanche won’t get desperate enough that they have to go that deep in the defensive prospect pool. Behrens should play to impress, but without the worry of trying to make the NHL roster this season. Behrens should take this coming season as a learning experience and bulk up his body as well as add to his already massive skill set.

The post Can Behrens make the jump to the NHL this season? appeared first on The Rink.

The Avalanche have a rather bare cupboard with prospects, ranking as the 26th best pool of talent in The NHL, but we break them down into three tiers:

“2024 Call-ups”- these are players who are first in line to see NHL action this season, be that because of injury or to earning a place in the middle-six from a strong training camp.

“Starting Eagles”- these players can expect to gain seasoning and pro-experience in Loveland at the AHL level this season, but could become an option if the injury bug bites in Denver, or a trade makes room for depth.

“Long shots” are the players who will only step on the Ball Arena ice if the roster is decimated or the prospects in tiers above them experience setbacks.

This article will detail the highest tier of Avalanche prospects who you should see alongside Cale Makar in Denver this season.

Without further ado, let’s dig into the players I expect to see lacing up in the pros this year.

2024 Call-ups

Calum Ritchie (FWD), Drafted in 2023, 1st round, 27th overall

All the major buzz around up-and-coming Avalanche skaters starts with the unreal production of late first-round pick Calum Ritchie. Last year for the Oshawa Generals, Ritchie produced 80 points in just 50 games, including 28 goals, and added 30 additional points in 21 playoff games. Many NHL scouts mentioned Ritchie might have been an early pick if not for the injury that robbed him of his draft window, and those scouts look very smart right about now.

Ritchie has been working in Denver all summer, and his elite-hands and separation ability on the offensive project favorably into becoming a top-six forward for the Avalanche. Will it be this year? General Manager Chris MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar have a long track-record of being very conservative with young talent. The organization prefers veteran players with lower ceilings to potential stars with lower floors. The specifics of Ritchie’s eligibility complicate things further, particularly because the CHL-NHL transfer agreement prevents him from being assigned to the Colorado Eagles at this stage. It’s NHL or back to juniors in Oshawa for Ritchie.

The @Oshawa_Generals FINALLY solve Sam Hillebrandt @Avalanche prospect Calum Ritchie finds the back of the net in Barrie, deflecting Luca D'Amato's shot to open the scoring in Game 6 #OHLPlayoffs | #OSHvsBAR | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RxesKiyGCd

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 7, 2024

Ritchie has made it clear he intends to battle for a roster spot in this year’s camp. If he looks as good in pre-season as he has lately, then I expect a team missing Gabriel Landeskog will have no choice but to give the kid a shot.

Nikolai Kovalenko (RW/LW) Drafted in 2018, 6th round, 171st overall

Nikolai Kovalenko is on this list as a formality.

Kovalenko got limited opportunity in two playoff games after not playing in the regular season for Colorado once. The expectation is that Kovalenko will be a regular presence in the lineup out of training camp and could be as high as the second line, depending on his production. Despite only being 5’10” Kovalenko has a bulldog reputation for throwing big checks and battling for loose pucks. The organization hopes that he has the upside of a younger Artturi Lehkonen this year with the potential to be a Logan O’Connor replacement should he price himself out of the Avalanche cap situation when his contract expires at season’s end.

Kovalenko’s first with the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/5gKs3MkBJN

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) April 21, 2024

Jean-Luc Foudy (C/RW) Drafted in 2020, 3rd round, 75th overall

This is the make or break year for Jean-Luc Foudy as an NHL starter. We have seen limited samples of Foudy in the past two seasons because of injury and the upside is plain to see. His skating is nothing less than elite, and he has an impressive work-ethic that should slot him in perfectly into a locker-room tone set by Nathan MacKinnon. The problem for Foudy, and why we haven’t seen him yet, is twofold.

First, and most importantly, Foudy just hasn’t stayed healthy. Foudy only played 26 games with the Eagles (four with the Avalanche) in the last season following his second major injury in a young career. Being able to keep his body healthy for an 82 game season isn’t entirely in his control, but be it is a matter of luck or conditioning. Health has been a major factor in his slower development.

The second is his hands. Hand-eye coordination is among the most desirable skills in hockey, particularly if we are talking about a top-six offensive skater. Foudy has no trouble carrying the puck because of his skating ability, but the shot and playmaking from the center hasn’t always been there consistently. Fourteen points in 26 games, just four goals, is decent production as part of a rehab stint in the AHL. But that isn’t the developmental production that gets you a call-up on a team as deep as the Avalanche.

Foudy has two real pathways this year that could be successful. He either has a strong camp and earns his way onto the starting roster, then starts strong to keep his spot as Landeskog, Lehkonen, and others return from injury. Or, he continues to show promising but not quite ready production and is among the obvious pieces the Avalanche look to move for a veteran impact player at the trade deadline while they chase another cup.

Jean-Luc Foudy scores his first NHL goal, pushing Colorado's lead to 5!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/IzOHAQeXKJ

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 7, 2024

The third option, of course, is that he continues to be a good for the Eagles, but is never a great Avalanche. I hope it’s one of the first two.

Honorable mention: Justus Annunen (G) Drafted 2018 3rd round 64th overall

Some still consider Justus Annunen a prospect, but given that during the off-season he signed a one-way contract extension and is cut out as the back-up if not 1B tandem starter for the Avalanche this year. Annunen is a NHLer, and judging by last year the best goalie on the Avalanche NHL roster.

That is it for the top tier! Next week, we will have the “Starting Eagles” tier headlined by Oskar Olausson, Sam Malinski, and Ivan Ivan.

The post Avalanche prospects you will see in 2024 Part 1 appeared first on The Rink.

O’Connor and injury

Last season was the fewest games that O’Connor had played since his first year on the Avalanche. O’Connor and the team decided it was best to get the surgery and have the entire summer to heal. “I was skating mid-June,” he said, “so it gave me lots of runway before this season to sort of ramp it up and be feeling good come camp.” A lot of players begin skating in July, so he is already ahead of the game.

Roaring 20s

O’Connor hopes to be reunited on the “Roaring 20s,” line along with Miles Wood and Ross Colton, who he found instant chemistry with last year. “I would definitely like to if that’s the case,” O’Connor said. “I think with all of us, we’re comfortable playing with whoever, though, obviously at the start of the year a lot of things can change, and guys can be in and out, or coming back from injuries from last year or whatnot. So I think we’re comfortable with that. I think Bedsy knows he has that line to go to if need be. And if that’s the start of the season, great if it’s 10 or 20, games in. So be it. I think just see where things shake up and go from there. But I definitely enjoy playing with them.”

Cal Ritchie

O’Connor had the pleasure of skating at the DU Pro Camp last week with some other teammates like Behrens, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and the new NHL hopeful, Cal Ritchie. “He’s a really talented player,” O’Connor said. “He’s a lot more mature and bought in professionally than I’d say most guys his age are. I feel like he knows what he needs to do off the ice. Training wise, acting like a pro, recovery wise, nutrition wise, he’s bought into all those things, so that’s great to see. And then his talent level just shows through right away. He’s very skilled with good decision making, great release. So it’s been cool to watch him and sort of trying to help him out along the way.”

Behrens

Sean Behrens had a whirlwind end of the season last year. He won his second national championship, signed his first entry-level contract and reported to the Colorado Eagles all within a week. Behrens has his sights set on wearing an Avalanche sweater, not just an Eagles’ one. As in the way that he has approached this season, it hasn’t been much different from the past.” It’s been a lot the same,” Behrens said. “I think, even though it’s a new challenge and it’s a different opportunity. I think what I’ve done the last couple summers to get ready for the season with Matt Shaw and at DU has helped me a lot. And I think that helped me start off the season really well. So I think just kind of it’s been the same summer, and it’s just a different challenge coming up for the season now.”

Being mature enough

One thing that was very refreshing when speaking to Behrens was hearing how mature he was for a 21-year-old man. It seems like a lot of kids now want to rush their way into the pros where Behrens had the sense to know that he needed more time in college. The extra experience of 44 games helped him build up an already great game. “I think after my sophomore year I wasn’t really content with where my college career was at, so I thought that was a huge part of why I wanted to come back,” Behrens said. “And I think also, you look at it from a maturity standpoint, like this year, I took a lot of steps maturing, becoming a more rounded person off the ice with nutrition and habits and stuff like that. And I thought without this year I would have been a step behind at the next level in that area.”

Conclusion

Getting both Logan O’Connor and Sean Behrens back in the organization will inject the both teams with some much needed energy. The Avalanche have sorely missed O’Connor’s forechecking ability, along with his speed. Having another option for a puck moving defenseman with Behrens will open up a lot of options for the Eagles and hopefully the Avalanche. Both players have great hockey sense every fan cannot wait for them to come back.

Logan O’Connor interview

Sean Behrens interview

The post O’Connor and Behrens both eager to get back appeared first on The Rink.

Bryan Yoon

Bryan Yoon, who is a native of Parker, Colorado, was most recently with the Hartford Wolfpack (NYR) of the AHL. Yoon has deep roots in the state, attending Colorado College from 2018 to 2023, leading the Tigers as captain of his last season. Yoon received an invitation to the Colorado Avalanche development camp in the summer of 2023 and secured a contract with the Grizzlies. He received an invitation to the Eagles training camp, but they released him early on. Later in the season, the Grizzlies loaned Yoon to the Wolfpack, where he played 18 games and earned a AHL contract for the rest of the year.

Yoon shows some sparks of offense when given the opportunity, but is primarily a stay-at-home-defenseman. Considering the depth of the Eagles at defense, they will probably send Yoon to the Grizzlies immediately. If there are injuries to Avalanche or Eagles players, he may be first on the list.

BRYAN YOON JUST SCORED HIS FIRST PRO GOAL!!!! #OnTheHunt pic.twitter.com/DyVoEZjjYT

— Utah Grizzlies (@UtahGrizzlies) December 2, 2023

Tye Felhaber

Tye Felhaber is a Pembroke, Ontario native and has been in the ECHL and AHL since he turned 18 seven years ago. Felhaber spent the entire season with the Milwaukee Admirals (NSH), playing 50 games and tallying 23 points (10–13). He was sent to the Admirals the season before on a loan from the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) and gained a foothold in the lineup. He is a goal-scoring forward with a high-end shot and excellent skills to match. Felhaber projects as a solid top nine forward who can bring additional value as a trigger man on the power play. Expect him to be a bottom-six forward for the Eagles.

TYE FELHABER pic.twitter.com/EnHjNg2s12

— Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) March 26, 2023

Keaton Mastrodonato

Keaton Mastrodonato is a native Powell River, British Columbia, and has spent his professional career with the Dallas Stars organization. Mastrodonato started with the Texas Stars after playing at Canisius College for four years. Mastrodonato started his professional career with the Dallas Stars organization, playing for the Texas Stars before being loaned to the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL, where he has been since. While in Idaho, Mastrodonato racked up 42 points (24–18) in just 48 games. He will provide speed and a quick wrist shot to the bottom-three for the Eagles and a lot of points for the Grizzlies.

YOUR NEW PROGRAM RECORD HOLDER FOR CAREER SHORTHANDED GOALS, KEATON MASTRODONATO!

5-3 #Griffs pic.twitter.com/0lgcAbRQQB

— Canisius Hockey (@GriffsHockey) February 18, 2023

Conclusion

At this point in the season, both the Avalanche and the Eagles are signing depth players. These will all be players that can jump from one league to another and can play a distinct style of game in both. So do not expect many big names to come out in the coming weeks. Yoon is one player that I have had my eye on for a year or two now, so it will be exciting to see what he can bring to the table if given a chance.

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In a video posted to social media Wednesday, July 31st, at 9:12AM Eagles owner Martin Lind announced major plans for what will be, in his words, “A new epicenter of awesome in northern Colorado!”

The complex will feature a new arena for the Colorado Eagles, as well as three sheets of ice for youth hockey. The district will include, per Lind, entertainment districts, plazas, hotels, a notable expansion from the single arena space and events center The Ranch provides the team.

See the video for yourself here:

We have some major news, Eagles Country! pic.twitter.com/qZpo92y1iS

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) July 31, 2024

Here are some answers to other burning questions Eagles’ fans have.

Why are the Eagles building a new arena?

Since 2003, the Eagles have been calling “The Ranch” their home, which was founded by Ralph Backstrom, a 6-time Stanley Cup winner. Blue Arena, built on the fairgrounds, seats 7,200, making it the 5th smallest arena in the AHL. The Eagles currently rank 15th in total attendance among AHL teams, however, are second only to the Utica Comets (who have the smallest arena at 3,860) seats in capacity attendance. What does this mean? That Colorado Eagles games average 98.8% attendance with more games being sold out than any other AHL team.

The new arena proposal in Greeley will see an 8,600 seat capacity adding hotels and amenities that will allow it to rival other dedicated AHL entertainment complexes such as the Tucson Events Center (current home of the Tucson Roadrunners).

How close are they to opening the doors?

Although many are excited about the new arena for the Eagles, there is no official date for when construction will begin. On July 30th, the City of Greeley gave approval to the memorandum of understanding between them and The Water Valley Company (The Eagles’ holding company). This set research forwards on the site which The-Rink has discovered appears to include land recently purchased by Martin Lind north of the JBS Meat Wholesale near highway 85 pictured below.

Land purchased by Martin Lind in Greeley

According to Greeley’s City Management, the completion of the results of the initial research surveys by the city should take eight to 10 weeks.

Are there any other major features of the complex besides the arena?

Two words: Water Park. As Lind stated in his video announcement, he and The Water Valley Company have tied Colorado and water together. The details of the project given the working name “Greeley West Side” include construction of a major water park to service the thrill seekers and sunbathers in Northern Colorado. Given the project is situated an hour north of  “Water World” (which was recently voted the second best outdoor water park in America by Newsweek), the prospect of a Greeley water park showcases the level of ambition and funding behind Greeley West Side and Lind.

From all sources, the city, and the team, there is nothing but enthusiasm and support for the project. Recent arena troubles for hockey teams in neighboring Arizona and rival Calgary are not concerns for Project West Side. The state, city, and most importantly funding are all deeply invested in re-invigorating Northern Colorado with a new hockey complex and much more in the coming years.

The post Colorado Eagles announce arena project in Greeley appeared first on The Rink.

His past

Scheel spent three years at the University of North Dakota, where he would help lead the team in success through the NCHC Championship. During his college years, Scheel had a combined record of 52–18–5 with seven shutouts. His impressive 20–4–1 with a 1.74 GAA, .931 save percentage would lead UND to the Quarterfinal round of the 2021 Frozen Four, where he lost to Minnesota-Duluth in five overtimes. This would help Scheel secure his spot on the NCHC All-Star Team and the title of NCHC Goaltender of the Year.

Going pro

Coming out of college undrafted, Scheel was free to sign with any club he chose to. The Dallas Stars were his choice, and he would spend most of the year with their ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads. While in Idaho, he would secure the honor of Goaltender of the Week three times. His 1.97 GAA would be the best in the league and his .932 save percentage. Scheel’ success would run out in the Kelly Cup Finals as the Steelheads fell to the Florida Everblades (STL) four games to none.

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Scheel spent the entirety of last season with the AHL Chicago Wolves. As the team struggled to put any momentum together, his numbers struggled as well. The Wolves did not have any affiliation with an NHL club, so they were completely on their own for the year to put a roster together. Chicago would finish last in the Central Division and have since signed an agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Conclusion

Adam Scheel shows a lot of quickness in the crease. He is still learning the position at the pro level and has seen some success in the ECHL. Hopefully, this will carry over to the Utah Grizzlies and, when needed, the Eagles. But Colorado now has a goalie problem. They have two goalies on the roster that are on two-way contracts with Trent Miner and Kevin Mandolese. They also have two AHL contracts with Jake Barczewski and now Scheel. Healthy competition is not a bad thing, but overstock can be.

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Stanley Cup Champion Dan Hinote has been named associate head coach of the Colorado Eagles.

Happy to have you back in the organization, Dan!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/b3DXpGwc9Z

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 17, 2024

Hinote’s playing days

Hinote has a strong background in hockey. The Avalanche originally drafted him in 1996 (167th overall). After playing for West Point and then the Oshawa Generals, Hinote joined the Hershey (Colorado’s AHL affiliate at the time) in 1998. It was not until October 5, 1998 when Hinote made his NHL debut against the Predators. Hinote would help win a Stanley Cup in 2001 and leave the team for MODO during the 2004 lockout. Hinote would return to the Avalanche for one season and play his final three seasons in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.

Dan Hinote Sean Avery • Mar 20, 2006https://t.co/OjW2urZakt pic.twitter.com/MWhwbvVHTw

— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) September 28, 2022

Since Hinote stopped playing

Since Hinote has retired from playing the game of hockey, he has spent time as an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Predators. Hinote would spend time as a pro scout and associate coach, developing players in the U.S. National Development Program.

“Dan has a diverse background in professional hockey, including a decade as a player in the NHL and nearly a decade as a coach in the NHL,” said Avalanche Assistant General Manager Kevin McDonald. “He is a strong teacher of the game and relates well to younger players with his experience playing in college hockey, at the major junior level as well as his time as a coach with Team USA’s Under 17 and 18 teams. We are excited to have Dan back with the Avalanche organization and look forward to having him behind the Eagles bench this season.”

Conclusion

Dan Hinote will bring all kinds of experience with him to the bench. While in Nashville, he helped build the penalty kill and will help make that even better in Loveland. With his scouting and development experience, he will help to guide the team in Northern Colorado. They will need calm and collected voices from both Hinote and Schneekloth to start strongly this year.

The post Hinote returns to Avalanche organization as Eagles’ coach appeared first on The Rink.

Last Season

Mandolese appeared in 23 games for the Belleville Senators of The AHL in the 2023–24 season. He posted a 10–9–2–1 record, .901 SV%, and a 3.07 GAA. Mandolese also found himself sent down to the ECHL’s Allen Americans where he recorded a .918 SV% with a 3.53 GAA. Ottawa briefly recalled him to the NHL during the first week of February, but he did not see any action.

What to expect?

Avalanche and Eagles’ fans can expect Mandolese to share the crease with Trent Miner in the AHL. Mandolese, drafted by Ottawa in the 2018 Draft (sixth round, 157th overall), had his highest number of AHL appearances this past season. In 2020, a scout within the Senators organization called Mandolese “A bit of a project, but a smart guy who can put it all together.” With his recent increase in usage, the Eagles are hoping to capitalize on the upward trend of his development.

His history

Mandolese isn’t without limited NHL experience. At age 22 in the 2022–23 season, Mandolese debuted on an emergency recall amidst Ottawa suffering a series of brutal goaltending injuries. His debut inspired, and likely informed, the continued investment into his development as Mandolese made 46 saves in a 3–2 victory over the New York Islanders. That 46 save effort on February 14, 2023, is the second highest number of saves recorded by any rookie in their debut game for a win. He started two additional games before being reassigned to the Belleville Senators that year.

Conclusion

MacFarland has seen the lack of goaltending depth in the prospect pool as a major target for the organization. The Avalanche selected three goaltenders in the NHL Entry Draft last month, and inked presumed NHL backup Justus Annunen to a two-year, one-way, $837,500 extension this spring. Mandolese is the latest addition to a youth movement in the crease for the Avalanche organization.

The Avalanche also gained a 2026 seventh round pick in the trade.

Update: Mandolese has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level as of July 16th. 

The post Avalanche acquire goalie Kevin Mandolese in trade with Ottawa appeared first on The Rink.

A look ahead

The Eagles will play 11 teams in total this season, all teams that they met last season. The Eagles will meet every team on the road as well. There will be 36 home games and 36 road games, totaling 72 games throughout the season. There will only be two teams that the Eagles meet that are not in the Pacific Division. These teams are the Texas Stars (DAL) and the Grand Rapids Griffins (DET).

As usual, Colorado will have a weekend heavy schedule when at home, with Friday and Saturday seeing the most games.

Home dates by day:

— Tuesday–4

— Wednesday–4

— Friday–12

— Saturday–14

— Sunday–2

The Eagles have released their 2024-25 schedule #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/WXPRykU0GG

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 11, 2024

Opponents

Tucson (Utah) will be the opening weekend opponent this season. In their four meetings last season, the rivals took the Eagles down three times and only lost once. The Western Conference Champion Coachella Valley Firebirds will come to town four times and meet again on the road four more times. The Eagles once again split an eight game series against Abbotsford, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season.

— Henderson Silver Knights (VGK)

— Texas Stars (DAL)

— San Diego Gulls (ANA)

— Bakersfield Condors (EDM)

— Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA)

— Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)

— San Jose Barracuda (SJS)

— Abbotsford Canucks (VAN)

— Calgary Wranglers (CGY)

— Ontario Reign (LAK)

— Tucson Roadrunners (Utah)

The genuine test will be their longest stretch of six games in 10 days on the road in March.

Conclusion

With a very similar schedule to last season, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles perform. They will come into the year with a VERY different roster than last season. The backup goalie situation is still quite unsure, but Trent Miner gained a lot of confidence with Justus Annunen getting injured for six weeks last season. Either way, look forward to a season packed full of coverage from The-Rink Colorado team!

you can download and sync your calendar here.

The post Eagles release upcoming schedule appeared first on The Rink.

WELCOME BACK MEGS

We are thrilled to have our former captain, Jayson Megna back in Colorado after signing a two-year AHL contract with the Eagles! pic.twitter.com/WdyiVTDqPh

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) July 9, 2024

Waivers and claimed

The Avalanche had planned for Megna to be one of the main bubble players during the fall of 2022. He was fighting for a spot on the roster from day one of training camp. The speedy center got recalled just a couple of games into the season and stuck around. From the middle of October to the beginning of December, he was a regular in the lineup. When the Avalanche felt they needed to send Megna down, they placed him on waivers. Unfortunately for Eagles’ fans, the Anaheim Ducks could not pass up the opportunity. Megna was a mainstay in Anaheim, playing 41 games for them that season.

Jayson Megna with 2 1 and the OT winner featured here: pic.twitter.com/RsMgQvaypM

— Meghan Angley (@megangley) April 3, 2022

Last season

Despite playing his second most NHL games in a season, Megna could only gain a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins. As for the NHL, it was a disappointing year, with Boston only playing him in one game. He played with Providence, Boston’s AHL affiliate, for the rest of the season. Megna would play 69 (of 72) regular season games, tallying 56 points (19–37).

JAYSON MEGNA #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ZqJr7QjoIB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 26, 2019

Conclusion

Megna will bring many things to the Eagles this year. He will bring speed down the middle and the ability to win key faceoffs. The University of Nebraska-Omaha attendee can play on both the power play and the penalty kill as well. Do not overlook him as an important player, considering his 204 NHL games and 484 AHL games of experience. Megna may only have 33 (12–21) NHL points, but the experience of what it takes to get to the show is priceless. With many youthful faces around the Eagles, he will have the responsibility to step up as a leader this year.

The post Former captain Jayson Megna returns to Eagles appeared first on The Rink.

We've signed Calum Ritchie to a three-year entry-level contract. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/1kTcA94Yr7

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 8, 2024

Cal Ritchie put pen to paper #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/v4EDsh4sce

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 8, 2024

Development camp

The Avalanche drafted Ritchie 27th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. This summer was the first year that he could take part in the Avalanche Development Camp because of a shoulder injury. And boy, did he impress. During the scrimmage at the end of camp, Ritchie would tally three assists. The forward flew through the zone with ease and, most importantly, his head was up the entire way. During the drills, his initial speed on his stride has a lot of power and his shot has a lot of accuracy.

Calum Ritchie has stood out with his skating today. He will be heading back to Oshawa in the fall. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/dEvjC4iw7F

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

Last season

This last season, Ritchie played for the Oshawa Generals and would lead them to the OHL finals and losing to the London Knights. Playing 50 games after coming back from the injury, Richie racked up 80 (28–52) points during the regular season, a career high. During Ritchie’s 21 playoff games, he tallied 30 (8–22) points. Ritchie would elevate several of his teammate’s draft status this year, making them get drafted much higher.

Calum Ritchie continues to show why the Avalanche were reluctant to move him in any sort of deal. pic.twitter.com/pREnSnV0eE

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) March 9, 2024

Conclusion

The Avalanche will have a lot to watch for in the young center. He will fight for a spot on the roster with players like Chris Wagner and Jean-Luc Foudy. If Ritche makes the squad, they would have nine games to decide on if he stays in the NHL or needs to go back to OHL. If Ritchie plays more than nine games, he would burn a year of his contract. So there will be a lot of questions surrounding the Brampton native going into camp. The biggest one will be. Will he stick?

The #GoAvsGo signed '23 #27 pick F Calum Ritchie to 3 year Entry Level Deal

Year 1 855K Salary, 95K Signing Bonus, 125K "A" Perf Bonus
Year 2 855/95/250
Year 3 855/95/350

Cap Hit 950K, AAV $1.19M

Rep'd by @TheHockeyAgency https://t.co/O0nrXFEPVp

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 9, 2024

The post Calum Ritchie signs ELC, where does he end up? appeared first on The Rink.

Colby Ambrosio

Colby Ambrosio is a recent transfer from Boston College to Miami University (Ohio). As a draft pick from the 2020 draft (fourth round, 118th overall), the Avalanche will hold his rights until August. Ambrosio started out weak at camp, showing very little interest on day one. On day two, he woke up, and the jets turned on. He was flying through the neutral zone on drills on day two, keeping his strides short and powerful. During the game, Ambrosio showed no fear running the puck right up the middle of the ice and splitting the defense. It would pay off as he went bar down for a goal on a diving Nils Wallstrom. Ambrosio showed he has the experience from the NCAA tonight, but will the Avalanche take that into consideration?

Colby Ambrosio is flying this morning. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/XP8QVmwMOr

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 4, 2024

Matt Davis

Davis is a two-time National Champion from the University of Denver (DU). He also is a free agent that was at the camp on an invitation. With the Avalanche’s immediate goalie depth depleted, Davis could be a good option if he will leave school. Davis has great range on the push off while going post-to-post, but has a hole in his blocker. Players during the scrimmage kept taking advantage of his weak blocker, and he had some trouble blocking them. If Davis can get that blocker up, he could be a menace in the net behind Trent Miner.

Matt Davis, a camp invite and two-time NCAA National Champion, has been looking good this camp. Here he going post-to-post. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/D05lEGM28V

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 5, 2024

Boston Buckberger

Boston Buckberger is another DU defenseman and at the camp on an invitation. In his freshman year, he won the National Championship with Davis and Sean Behrens. In just 44 games he would have 27 points (5–22). I have written about him before earlier in the season for DU as a potential standout for them. At camp, he took several hits and show that he could take the punishment. He can move the puck very well and does it in small spaces to open up opportunities for himself. Buckberger is a little small at 5’11”, but he uses that to his advantage to be crafty. The one thing he really needs to work on is his shot from the point, as his wrist shot needs a little more power to it.

Boston Buckberger, a camp invite and DU dman, works his way around the slot here. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/SB93F8JCYx

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

Conclusion

There could be a couple of players that may earn themselves a contract out of the last three days. Ritchie, who is a draft pick, turned some heads. The college players may have a tougher time earning that contract with the bar being set higher. But, Ambrosio stood out in the scrimmage and hopefully that will convince the Avalanche to do something about it. Either way, the long summer starts and the work is only beginning for some of these players. We will see if they show up in an Avalanche locker room in the fall.

The post Day three of development camp for the Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

Tory Pitner

The Avalanche drafted Pitner this year (sixth round 185th overall) after playing the last two seasons for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. While there, he played 86 games and tallied 33 points (8–25). Today he stood out with his strong physical play on the puck and well-timed poke checks. In positioning drills, Pitner looked very comfortable and will have no issues with the transition to the NCHC. The Connecticut native took his backwards transitions in stride and it did not slow him down much. He will be a great addition to a fast Pioneer club this school year.

Tory Pitner on the transition and passing drill. He has one darn smooth transition. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/IWfjFk7HBW

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 4, 2024

Jake Fisher

The Avalanche (121st overall drafted Fisher, who will be roommates with Pitner this season, in the fourth round). He also spent the last two seasons in the USHL with the Fargo Force. Fisher scored 48 points (24-24) in his 63 games. The main thing that jumped out for Fisher was his shot. His wrist shot is impressive and his accuracy is on point. He appeared to lack the skating, which as a centermen could be a problem. There was no genuine power in the strides, so Fisher lacked the jumpoff speed you expect from a playmaker. Coach David Carle of the University of Denver will definitely try to fix this problem when Fisher joins the Pioneers in the fall.

Jake Fisher, another @DU_Hockey commitment and Tory Pitner's roomie, shows that he is hesitant on his edges. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/qIWlwmJYuz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 4, 2024

Chase Bradley

Chase Bradley is a 22-year-old that signed an entry-level deal with the Avalanche on July 1st. Originally a pick in the 2020 draft by the Detroit Red Wings (seventh round, 203rd overall), he never signed with the club. Bradley spent the last three seasons with the University of Connecticut (UConn), playing 95 games and scoring 51 points (25–26). He played primarily on the third line at UConn, but has shown some smooth skating skills at camp over the last two days. Bradley even has a little of stick handling skills to gain some extra room for himself. He may not be the first choice for a call up by the Avalanche, but he looks promising.

Chase Bradley is working on his best Sam Girard impression. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/58NcO3SUlm

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 4, 2024

Chase Bradley maintains his composure in the slot and then dangles the defense on the blue line to get some space #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/sZZLjBYbJc

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 4, 2024

Conclusion

Day two was a lot faster than yesterday and with coach Jard Bednar out there, the dial turned up quickly. Tomorrow will be a shorter morning skate followed by the scrimmage at 4 PM at Family Sports Center. This will be the last chance that some of these kids will make an impression for a while. It is always an exciting time of the year, as this is sometimes the only way we get to see some of these players. Tomorrow will be even more interesting, with the players probably sorted into a new group for their respective teams and the fun begins. Keep it here for all of your coverage of the development camp.

The post Day two of development camp for the Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

Calum Ritchie

Calum Ritchie was a draft pick in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. His shoulder injury, which was said to be holding him back, caused him to fall in the draft. Because of the injury, Ritchie could not take part in the 2023 Development Camp, but made a great impression this year. He has a quick deceptive shot that can change angles at the last second to throw goaltenders off. His skating skills were well above most. As he showed excellent edge work in a lot of the drills today. To add to that, he had some speed that helped him break loose around the corners. He will head back to the OHL in the fall unless he signs a deal with the Avalanche.

Calum Ritchie shows off some speed and some stick skills. This is the 1st year he can participate in Dev camp because of injuries. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/bxS8FIvjna

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

Taylor Makar

The Avalanche drafted Taylor Makar, the little brother of defenseman Cale Makar, in the seventh round in 2021. He recently just made the switch from UMass-Amherst to the University of Maine. Both schools have great programs, so he will develop just as well in Maine. Taylor has a bulkier body than Cale and a completely different skating style. Little brother can still get off to a strong start and has a long and powerful stride. Taylor throws his body around a little but can enter the zone quickly if needed. He will be a grinder, not a scoring forward.

Taylor Makar, who is a recent transfer to U. of Maine, looks like he has a bit more power to his stride. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/RaFdUJgBEF

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

Marek Hejduk

That’s right, Marek Hejduk. The son of former Avalanche captain Milan, is at camp on an invitation. We saw him doing informal practices last summer before heading off to Harvard for the year. Hejduk doesn’t have the scoring talent that his dad has with only seven points in 32 games, but he sure skates like him. He is powerful from the start and can take corners very well. His wrister can be impressive as well. Hejduk looked as though he grew a couple of inches over the school year or he was learning how to skate with his body type. Fans would love that he gets signed, but seems unlikely at this point.

Marek Hejduk, who is a camp invite, has improved his skating since we saw him last summer practicing with the club. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/jxgTNkT7BG

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

Conclusion

Day one is a wrap and we still have a ton of ice time to watch with two more days to observe, plus a scrimmage. Some prospects look as though they are taking full advantage of the opportunity, others are going through the motions. Seeing Pavel Francouz in a tracksuit was strange, but something we all will have to get used to. There will be plenty of coverage tomorrow, so keep checking back on our site for more!

Pavel Francouz is here for his new role with the Avalanche #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/3JK6ZH2v2O

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 3, 2024

The post A wrap from day one of Avalanche development camp appeared first on The Rink.

Erik Brännström

Erik Brännström is a defenseman that was drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017. He spent one season in their system with the Chicago Wolves and has been with the Ottawa organization ever since then. This last season, he saw a career high in games (76) with the Ottawa Senators and career highs in both goals (three) and assists (17) for the NHL. Brännström is a puck moving defenseman with an excellent skating ability. He can quarterback the power play if needed, but I doubt the Avalanche will use him in this role.4

Erik Brannstrom, signed 1x$0.9M by COL, is a puck-moving defenceman. A strong and ambitious break-out passer and puck carrier who drove play very well in a third pair role, but small and a bit turnover prone. Should be a good spot to see what he's capable of. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/5xyBO7EuPc

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2024

There are downsides to the Swede. I hear he is soft and not very physical. This is one thing that Colorado has had an issue with in the third pair for some time now. He has issues boxing out the opponents, thus keeping the front of the net clear. This will be a project for the Avalanche. So fans will have to be patient.

Erik Brannstrom lowers the BOOM

Love to see that from the little guy. pic.twitter.com/1xTCqMK61Q

— Martian (@LalimesMartian) February 28, 2023

Wyatt Aamodt re-signs

Defenseman Wyatt Aamodt, who was a restricted free agent due to have arbitration rights, has re-signed with the Avalanche. He has spent two full seasons with the Colorado Eagles and has become an essential part of their penalty kill. Known as “Ammo” around the locker room, Aamodt will let the opponents know he is there with board shaking hits. Aamodt reminds me a lot of how Jacob MacDonald plays, just with a lot more grit to his game. He played several games at forward for the Eagles this season and was very effective in the role for them. He will continue to play on the second or first pair for the Eagles this season.

Ivan plays with the defense before dropping the puck to Hunt and then Wyatt Aamodt buries it as he crashes the net. Tied at 4. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/OLhb4ifYH7

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) December 17, 2023

Departures

— Spencer Smallman — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals

— Corey Schueneman — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues

You can keep up with all the player movement for the Eagles here.

Conclusion

Once again, the Avalanche took care of what they needed to do today. By signing Brännström, they can keep Sam Malinski in Loveland to develop a little more. Colorado also gets a defenseman that is a little more offensive and can play their type of game. By re-signing Aamodt, they avoided arbitration and kept a key penalty killer in the system. Aamodt has yet to play a game for the Avalanche, but I can see it happening soon.

The post Brännström signs with Avalanche, Aamodt re-signs appeared first on The Rink.

Here is the #Avs regular season schedule. The first game against the Stars is on Nov 29th. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/vQvZ2cfewd

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) July 2, 2024

Valeri Nichushkin

Nichushkin went into Stage Three of the Player Assistance Program on May 13. This will lead to his suspension for a minimum of six months, resulting in him missing 16 games. You can raise it to 17 games at least for him to get on the ice and get back in the mix of things. Big games that he will miss include one against rebuilt Nashville Predators, Utah Hockey Club, Las Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights.

Back-to-backs

When the schedule is released, the back-to-backs always cause enormous concern. This year the Avalanche will have to do 11 of them. Their first set will be in October (27–28) at home against the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks. The next one has me concerned on November 29–30, where they play at Dallas and Edmonton at home. The following weekend it will be Detroit and New Jersey on the road.

Breakdown by month

— October: 1

— November: 1

— December: 2

— January: 2

— February: 1

— March: 2

— April: 2

#Avs have an eight-day stretch to end November that goes at Florida, at Tampa, home vs Vegas and finishes with at Dallas, home vs Edmonton in a back-to-back.

Yikes.

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) July 2, 2024

Key opponents

The Avalanche will meet the new Utah Hockey Club only three times this regular season. The first will be on October 24th. Colorado will open the season on national television against the Golden Knights on October 9th and meet only three times through the season. The genuine test will come as the Avalanche meet the defending Stanley Cup Champions on November 23rd and January 6th. Nashville may be the team to beat this year, as they have added Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault through free agency. They meet four times this season.

WE’RE BACCCCCKKKKK

The #NHLonTNT season kicks off with a jam-packed doubleheader on October 9th pic.twitter.com/opjhLfNhLZ

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) July 2, 2024

Conclusion

The key part of the schedule will be the first twenty games for the Avalanche. They will be without both Nichushkin and potentially Gabriel Landeskog during this stretch. Colorado cannot let themselves get into a slump right out of the gate and will have to fight for their victories. Colorado hasn’t completely built the bottom-six yet, but we are making progress. The return of Logan O’Connor will help for sure. Either way, if they slip, do not let yourself go into panic mode.

The post Avalanche release 2024-25 schedule appeared first on The Rink.

Restricted free agents

Colorado extended qualified offers (QO) to two of their four restricted free agents (RFA) yesterday. Jason Polin and Wyatt Aamodt were both given QO yesterday and will also have arbitration rights this summer. Polin will have a case as he made his NHL debut, but Aamodt has never seen a game in an Avalanche sweater. The two that were not given QO’s were Alex Beaucage and Gianni Fairbrother. Colorado sent Beaucage, who was drafted in 2019, to the ECHL this season because of poor performance. Fairbrother, who was acquired in the Alex Newhook trade, saw only nine games this season because of injuries.

Jonathan Drouin

The former junior teammate of Nathan MacKinnon headed to Denver, hoping to reignite his career. And that he did. Drouin would see career highs in every scoring category since joining the NHL. After the Avalanche gave him a chance on a contract of $825,000, he would prove worth way more than that. Drouin would be the first announcement of the day with a one-year contract with $2.5 million. He would take a discount to stay in Denver, but happiness is worth more.

Thank you Jonathan Drouin for nine straight wins! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/9TjA3wit5h

— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) March 24, 2024

Joel Kiviranta

Joel Kiviranta got a chance on a PTO with the Colorado Eagles last season and made the most of it. He would earn a spot on the Eagles’ roster and eventually fight his way to a two-way contract with the Avalanche. An unfortunate injury to Artturi Lehkonen led to Kiviranta’s call up, and he has not looked back since. Kiviranta played 56 regular season games and produced nine points. They confirmed his contract for one year at a value of $775,000.

Joel Kiviranta from Nathan MacKinnon #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/SDWl2k8jlD

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 8, 2023

Calvin De Haan

The Avalanche have a gap to fill on their third pair and Calvin De Haan can fill it. He plays a very similar game to Jack Johnson. Except that he does it better. A defenseman that will block lots of shots and play on the third pair, he can move the puck responsibly. De Haan can block lots of pucks and is reliable in most areas of the game. He has logged 632 NHL games with 141 points (24–117) and can log a dependable 10–15 minutes of ice time per game if needed. De Haan’s contract will be for one-year and worth $800,000, a good value to the situation that the Avalanche are in.

"De Haan lets it go, HE SCORES!"

First goal of the season for Calvin de Haan (@cal_dehaan), first NHL point for Ian Mitchell (@IanMitch15)!@NBCSChicago | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/JaVEjOUQwz

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 23, 2021

Jacob MacDonald

A man that really needs no introduction, or should I say re-introduction? Jacob MacDonald has already seen games in the Avalanche organization in 2019–2023, winning a Stanley Cup. In January 2023, the Avalanche organization made a trade involving the former captain of the Eagles, Jacob MacDonald, for Ryan Merkley and Matt Nieto. MacDonald signed a two-year contract worth $775,000 per year with the organization. He is an offensive defenseman that can carry the puck very well. MacDonald has been used as a forward by the Avalanche because of his speed into the zone. The Oregon native still owns a home in Loveland, so it will be a simple transition.

Hey #Avs fans we are 26 days away from the start of the @Avalanche season!!!! #GoAvsGo #HockeyTwitter #NHL pic.twitter.com/blTtlsqary

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 16, 2022

Chase Bradley

Chase Bradley Chase Bradley was an unsigned draft pick from 2020 (203rd overall) by the Detroit Red Wings. He spent the last three years at UConn as he played in 95 games and tallied 51 points (25–26). Bradley primarily played on the third line, but has great positioning away from the puck. His skating sets him apart on the bottom-six, holding his edges well. The St. Louis native has a hard shot that can be deceptive. Bradley will join the organization on an entry-level deal that will only cost the Avalanche $775,000 when he is in the NHL. Expect Bradley to spend most of his time in Loveland.

#LGRW 7th rounder in 2020 Chase Bradley absolutely hoses #NHLBruins 3rd rounder from 2021 Phillip Svedeback – this goal proved to be the game winner as UConn escaped with a 2-1 win over No. 10 Providence

: @UConnMHOC pic.twitter.com/c2on9NpxcE

— The Puck Drop (@HEApuckdrop) February 4, 2024

T.J. Tynan

The former Eagles’ captain (another one) returns to the organization after spending three years with Los Angeles and Ontario. T.J. Tynan previously played 16 games with the Avalanche as a fourth line center during the 2019–20 season. A player that wins faceoffs and is hard on the forecheck, he will fit right in either in Denver or Loveland. Despite his small stature (5’8”), Tynan can throw his body around and lets you know he is there. Expect Tynan to be one of the first to be called up from Loveland for the center role if needed. The Avalanche have confirmed that Tynan’s contract is only for one year.

TJ Tynan certified beauty pic.twitter.com/DjCm04hCNj

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 23, 2022

Parker Kelly

Parker Kelly is a hard working depth forward that will provide energy in the bottom-six of the lineup. Kelly is hard-hitting and can provide support on the penalty kill while adding a shorthanded goal here and there. Last season, Kelly had career highs in points and games played and gained confidence in this last season with zero fights. This contract will be Kelly’s first contract outside of his entry-level contract. They confirmed the contract at two-years, one-way, and worth $825,000 per year.

Tyler Motte directs home the unreal feed from Parker Kelly on the odd-man rush for a SHORTY, 5-3 Senators!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/msPdV5OmvA

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 17, 2022

Calle Rosen

Calle Rosen is another name that we all should recognize for two reasons. He is a returning Avalanche/Eagles defenseman, and he was involved in a controversial play. During the 2022 playoffs, he was the defenseman who pushed Nazem Kadri into Jordan Bennington, which led to the water bottle incident. Rosen will primarily be an Eagle this year that is a good puck mover with some offensive ability. He can defend his position and has a very active stick. Rosen agreed to a one-year contract with the team.

Departures

— Sean Walker — signed with the Carolina Hurricanes for 5×3.6 million

— Yakov Trenin — signed with the Minnesota Wild for 4×3.5 million

— Brandon Duhaime — signed with the Washington Capitals for 2×1.85 million

— Riley Tufte — signed with the Bruins organization for 1x775k

— Nate Clurman — signed with the Penguins organization for 1x775k

Conclusion

The goal of the day was to sign Drouin, and the Avalanche did that. The rest of the signings were to fill the depth chart back up and get players back to Loveland. I would say today was a very successful day, considering the circumstances. I would have loved to see Riley Tufte stay here, especially since he even said that he was finally getting a chance on the top line. The coming days will tell us how the rest of the Avalanche and the Eagles will fill out. There really does not seem to be anything to worry about.

The post Avalanche day one wrap of free agency appeared first on The Rink.

Ilya Nabokov, Goaltender (38th overall)

The first pick of the 2024 draft for the Avalanche was goaltender Ilya Naboko from Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. He is ranked number two on the international goalie list and posted a 23–13–3 record as a rookie with a .930 save percentage. To add to that, Nabokov had a 16–6 record in the playoffs with a .942 save percentage. The youngest player to do so, he won the Gagarin Cup and secure the playoff MVP. He has a two-way contract that will end in April 2025, meaning that he could fill the gap left by Trent Miner. He is confident and explosive in the crease to take away angles.

William Zellers, Left Wing (76th overall)

William Zellers, who attended Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep in Minnesota, led all U.S. high school hockey league in goals and points this last season (57–54–111). The University of North Dakota commit plays a fast and physical game and will head to the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL first. Zellers will get in on the forecheck quickly. Even when he is in tight quarters, he can get a shot off, making him a constant scoring threat. Zellers plays a great two-way game, making him effective in both the power play and the penalty kill.

Jake Fisher, Center (121st overall)

Jake Fisher, who will attend the University of Denver next season, is a forward that overpowers his opponents in puck battles. A skater with speed down the middle, he can also rip the one-timers with ease. While playing with the Fargo Force last season, Fisher tallied 47 points (23–24) in 51 games. The centerman would help lead the Force to the Clark Cup championship and secure the win as well. 

 “I chose the University of Denver because the hockey team has a history of winning championships and developing NHL players,” Fisher said. “The coaches have treated me great, and I have a high level of trust in them that they will put me in the right position to succeed. The schooling as well is a high level, and I love the campus and location in the city.”

+=

Jake Fisher cashes in on a gross pass from Mac Swanson and the Force take a 3-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/jDXmiXUnJ4

— xy – Fargo Force (@FargoForce) April 25, 2024

Louka Cloutier, Goaltender (132nd overall)

Louka Cloutier will attend the University of Nebraska- Omaha next season after spending the year with the Chicago Steel. Cloutier broke out after taking over the starting role for the Steel, posting a 14–14–2 record with a .904 save percentage. He is calm and collected in the net, but not a game breaker. Cloutier has a ton of potential and the NCHC will help him develop his game. He will play against the best talent in the NCAA, but fans will need to be patient as he develops his game.

The deficit is only two after a period thanks to stops like this from Louka Cloutier #FeelSteel pic.twitter.com/N8pfwZyVex

— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) April 7, 2024

Ivan Yunin, Goaltender (137th overall)

Ivan Yunin is an 18-year-old goaltender playing in Russia’s MHL (equivalent to juniors in North America). Yunin is an athletic goalie that plays with a wide stance and can move effortlessly around the crease. Playing his second season for the Omskie Yastreby, Yunin put forth a 2.31 goals allowed average and .909 save percentage. The six foot two-inch youngster can react quickly to changes in the play and make improbable saves.

Maxmilian Curran, Center (161st overall)

Maxmilian Curran, also known as Max, is a strong two-way forward with a high hockey IQ. He needs some work on his skating, but makes up for it with his vision and pass-first mentality. Curran missed the last half of the season because of injury, but was hitting his stride before that. He is a center who can control the play in every zone, playing a smart positional game. Curran’s main deficiency in his game is a lack of grit. Playing with the Tri-City Americans for 40 games, he racked up 32 points (5–27).

Tory Pitner, Defense (185th overall)

Tory Pitner is another player committed to the University of Denver. He will actually be roommates with Jake Fisher this year. Pitner is a stay-at-home defenseman that likened himself to John Marino and Jeff Petry. Pitner is not the biggest kid at 180 pounds, but he can outbox his opponents and dig hard in the corners. He has a very active stick and can take space away from the attackers.

“I chose to attend the University of Denver because of the blend of elite athletics and academics,” Pitner said. “The coaching staff with the hockey program is second to none, and their ability to develop NHL players is something that I really valued and was another reason I chose to attend the university.”

Christian Humphreys, Center (215th overall)

Christian Humphreys will attend the University of Michigan this fall after spending the last two seasons in the U.S. National Development Program. With the USHL team, Humphreys tallied 24 points in just 23 games (7–17). He is a well-rounded forward with strong secondary scoring capabilities. Humphreys is strong on the forecheck and plays well through all three zones. He will need to work on his skating, but the NCHC will force him to get better at that. The Pittsburgh native possesses a strong work-ethic that will help him grow as a player.

Nikita Prishchepov, Center (217th overall)

Nikita Prishchepov is a big center that has great vision that can lead on a pass rather than throw the puck into the feet. He has splendid vision and is patient with the puck. Prishchepov spent the last season with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL. He collected 67 points (22–45) in 64 games, finishing fourth on the team in scoring.

Nikita Prishchepov conclut la passe de Maxime Pellerin et les @TigresVicto mènent 2-1 dans le #MDSLCH !

Nifty hands from Pellerin as he finds Prishchepov! #CHLGOTW pic.twitter.com/tOpSfjr1Aq

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) October 20, 2023

Conclusion

The Avalanche had a need in the crease, and they filled it today with three goaltenders. Colorado may not see a few of them for a couple of years, but goalies may take years to get to the NHL. Trent Miner, who just signed a new contract, has been in the system for three years and never seen the NHL. Colorado added three players that will see development out of the organization in the NCHC. The Avalanche turned two picks into five with trades and did it without giving up a current man on the roster. It was a successful draft for the Avalanche. The only thing I would have done differently is I would have taken more defense.

The post Complete Avalanche draft player breakdown appeared first on The Rink.

MacKinnon wins Hart Memorial Trophy

Nathan MacKinnon has finally won the Hart Memorial Trophy. This season, MacKinnon went up against the likes of Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid. This was the fifth time that MacKinnon received the nomination as the most valuable player in the league. MacKinnon set a career high in assists with 89 and demolished his season high in points with 140. This would break a franchise record set by Peter Stastny in 1981–82 season with 139 points. The Colorado center would add 14 points in his 11 playoff appearances. He is the third Avalanche player to win the award after Joe Sakic in 2001 and Peter Forsberg in 2003.

Nathan MacKinnon had 140 points, found the scoresheet in an NHL-high 69 games, posted the second-longest home scoring streak in NHL history (35 GP) and was a top-two selection on 184 of 194 Hart Trophy ballots. #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/8blbr6gjLm pic.twitter.com/PWDXrcasJl

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 27, 2024

MacKinnon wins Ted Lindsay

Not only did the star center from Colorado win the Hart Memorial Trophy, he won the Ted Lindsay Award as well. The players vote and present the award to the league’s MVP. This was the first nomination for MacKinnon in his career. Sakic’s win in 2000-01, when it was known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, made him the second Avalanche player to win the trophy. MacKinnon gave a quick reception speech, thanking his team, the owners and congratulating Andrew Cogliano on his retirement.

Nathan MacKinnon has won the Ted Lindsay Award pic.twitter.com/zkXtcQDuR5

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 27, 2024

Makar falls short on the Norris

Despite Cale Makar setting a franchise record for assists by a defenseman in a season (69), his defense fell short. Makar would also break his own single-season record for points by a defenseman, topping out at 90 points. Members of the media felt Makar lacked the overall aspect of his game, which is the qualifier for the award. Makar would finish third in the voting behind Quinn Hughes and Roman Josi.

#Avs Cale Makar finished third in the Norris Trophy voting. pic.twitter.com/uhu85yrkpH

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) June 27, 2024

Conclusion

The Hart or the Ted Lindsay are not the Stanley Cup that is for sure. But they are awards that are well deserved for Mackinnon and his 140 point season. He carried the Avalanche through all 82 regular season games and showed what a genuine leader he can be. After being nominated three times prior to this year, the wait was worth it. Fans felt the frustration on the defensive side of things and that could have cost Makar the Norris. One thing is for sure, this will not be his last nomination for the Norris.

The post MacKinnon adds Hart and Ted Lindsay to trophy case appeared first on The Rink.

Here are all 32 Fanatics Authentic Pro home jerseys for the 2024-25 #NHL season. pic.twitter.com/r2XCli75BO

— icethetics (@icethetics) June 26, 2024

Changes to on-ice jersey

We will not see a significant difference in the product on the ice from what we are already used to. Some teams have changed their jerseys already. But most of the league is going to stay the same. There are a few physical changes to every jersey that will take place:

— An additional layer of fabric inside the lower sleeve to enhance uniform durability intended to reduce material wear from sustained friction against the boards. This enhancement directly resulted from feedback from NHL players and equipment managers.

— New shoulder fabrics replacing the debossed pattern fabric used on the shoulders of the prior NHL jersey.

— A new NHL Shield execution on the front neck of the jersey which includes a special hologram finish.

— Fanatics branding embroidered on the back neck of jerseys.

Here is the view of the #Avs on-ice #Fanatics jersey from the video that Fanatics posted. Not much appears to have changed in looks other than the "dimples" are now gone from the shoulders. #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/480f1wbPvZ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 26, 2024

What will be available?

In previous years, the only way to get an official on-ice jersey was if the team sold them. Now to buy the same product that is being worn by the players and sold in stores. Adidas had made the same claim but ran into a lawsuit over it. Here are the levels of jerseys that fans can expect to see on shelves starting September:

— Authentic Pro: This will be the same jersey that the players wear on the ice. This will also be the most expensive. This will retail at $400.

— Premium: This jersey will be same as what Adidas sells in stores right now. It still has embroidered crests and patches, a fighting strap, but lacks some details of the Authentic Pro. This will retail for $180-$230.

— Breakaway: For Fanatics jerseys, the Breakaway style is what most fans are familiar with. They are lightweight and fit more like a t-shirt. The patches will be sublimated and lack embroidery. It will retail for $135-$175.

— Practice Jersey: The redesigned practice jersey will be available to purchase. The retail price is still to be determined.

Our Authentic Pro @NHL On-Ice Uniforms are here. Made in Canada, by the same people who have been making NHL jerseys for almost five decades. 

by the legendary voice of hockey, Doc Emrick. pic.twitter.com/7sGiyGPXdQ

— Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 26, 2024

What does the league think?

The players and equipment managers around the league played a role in designing the new jerseys. The front crest and sleeves were two things that were changed at their request. “Fanatics did a great job designing these jerseys,” Austin Matthews said. “They feel comfortable and look breathable, which is important during games. Any little detail that can help us perform at our best makes a difference.” Even the young rookies think they look good. “The Fanatics jersey looks good,” Connor Bedard said. “I like that there is not a lot of change from the older version, and I also like the design of the new practice jersey.”

Here’s a closer look at the new @Fanatics NHL Authentic Pro #Blackhawks Jersey. pic.twitter.com/xmduWzsfc7

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) June 26, 2024

Conclusion

The real debut will happen this week at the NHL Entry Draft on Friday night. I am sure there will be some feedback from both fans and players then. The same factory that has been producing the NHL’s jerseys in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, is still making the jerseys. So, this will definitely be something that we all will want to monitor as the summer progresses. But, I am trying to give Fanatics the benefit of the doubt that they will not make too many changes.

The post What to expect from the new Fanatics NHL jerseys appeared first on The Rink.

Thank you Cogs for continuously making an impact on and off the ice.

Congratulations on an outstanding career. pic.twitter.com/JnQCdJpYnP

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 21, 2024

Cogliano has tallied 464 points (190g/274a) in 1,294 NHL contests. He would define the role of a hardworking, middle to bottom-six forward. The Canadian would play 830 games in a row, a testament to his work ethic that was well demonstrated in Colorado.

The Iron Man often played through multiple injuries. This included the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs when he suffered a check into the boards, breaking a lamina in his neck. Cogliano would briefly leave the game, but returned and finished. He would then have to sit the rest of the series because of the injury.

For reference as to where the injury is on Cogliano's neck. #GoAvsGo #Avs @FullPressNHL https://t.co/2TxuBfXwqj pic.twitter.com/T9lXqi1heF

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 29, 2023

“The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment,” said Cogliano. “I am blessed to have played for so long with some great organizations and amazing teammates. I will miss being with the guys in the dressing room and battling for each other on the ice every night, but it’s time to move on. Thank you to everyone I ever played with, played for and all the great fans for all of their support. I am excited to start my new chapter in the front office.”

A look back in the Burgundy and Blue pic.twitter.com/ZvVZrKs0XW

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 21, 2024

What is next

The gritty forward will not be going far as he will take a front office role with the Avalanche. According to the team, the role will comprise a variety of tasks. These roles will include player development, professional and amateur scouting, as well as working with the Colorado Eagles.

Conclusion

Everywhere Cogliano has gone, he has made the players and people around him better. All the Avalanche players said that Cogliano handled the rally in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. He talked to the entire team and got them to all calm down. He will bring this to the front office and the player development program for the Avalanche. The Avalanche will miss Cogliano on the penalty kill, but he will always be available to help.

The post Cogliano calls it a career, stays with Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

It'll be here before you know it.

: https://t.co/IfPhOsfZv2#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/rmN6b17asj

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 20, 2024

The opponents

Colorado will play two games against each opponent, one at home and one on the road. They will take on the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and the new Utah Hockey Club. Do not expect to see a lot of the big name talent in these games, mostly the AHL players getting some extra looks. The Dallas games will be a matchup of mostly Texas Stars and Colorado Eagles. They split the series last season 2–2.

The Vegas Golden Knights will be in a similar situation with a bit of spice thrown in. The Eagles and the Henderson Silver Knights met eight times last year with the Eagles coming out on top 6–1–1.

Here is where it gets exciting. Colorado will play the new Utah Hockey Club twice this preseason. The road game will not take place at the Delta Center, the home of the new club. Instead, the Maverik Center will host the game. The Maverik Center is home of the ECHL Utah Grizzlies and they are the Avalanche’s affiliate.

Training camp start date

Whenever the preseason schedule gets released, it provides us a good sign of when training camp starts. The Avalanche typically hold their training camp at the Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado, where they practice. Based on previous years and the start of preseason, I guess that training camp will start around September 20th.

Conclusion

The waiting this time of the year has to be the worst. But other than the Draft next week and Free Agency, we have something to look forward to. We can slowly fill in our calendars for the start of the season. We can set watches for the announcement of the regular season schedule, usually later this month or in July. Either way, the preseason will be an exciting one to watch with the new club and city in the mix but also while in “home territory”.

The post Avalanche release preseason schedule, what it tells us appeared first on The Rink.

We have signed forward Jere Innala to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2024-25 season. pic.twitter.com/47C2GTl14i

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 13, 2024

#GoAvsGo signed 26 y/o F Jere Innala to a 1 year ELC, per @PuckPedia:

$870K cap hit / $950K AAV

$775K salary, $95K SB, $80K GP PB, $82.5K AHL

UFA on expiry, rep’d by Markus Lehto @wassermanhockey https://t.co/aFVFqnmK3n

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) June 14, 2024

What Innala brings to the team

The winger will provide a powerful one-timer in the bottom-six for the Avalanche. Innala loves to set himself up in the faceoff circle for the shot. He offers quickness for centers and defensemen getting out of the defensive zone. Judging from some videos that I have seen, he is great at reading zone exits.

Jere Innala med mål nummer 11 i slutspelet pic.twitter.com/QWJcXQCEU8

— Frölunda HC (@frolunda_hc) April 18, 2024

It is likely that Innala will start his North American career in Loveland with the Colorado Eagles. He will need some time to adjust to the NHL sized ice and the speed of the game. The AHL will give Innala to get through that adjustment period.

Jere Innala #SHLfi #FHC pic.twitter.com/GhtxWfX58i

— SHL Highlights (@SHLHighlightsFI) January 6, 2024

Innala has had a very successful past. In 2021 Innala would help secure the silver medal for Finland in the World Championships. In 2022, he won the Gold Medal playing in the World Championships with Finland. He tallied one goal in four games, but the next year had more of an impact where he had five points in eight games. In 2018–19, Innala won the championship with HPK in the Liiga. The following season, he would lead the league with the most game-winning goals (8).

Jere Innala cuts the lead in half. Finland is back in the game. #MensWorlds #FINSUI @leijonat pic.twitter.com/E0YwMgDsBH

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 21, 2024

Conclusion

Innala is just the start of the off season for the Avalanche and the Eagles. Innala will provide a hard slap shot and a quick snapshot for the bottom-six for the Avalanche or top-six for the Eagles. Jason Polin and Ondřej Palát will have their speed complemented by him for the Eagles, making them a scoring threat on one line together. His shot will be useful in the power play where the Eagles struggled the most. His champion pedigree should be fun to watch.

The post Avalanche sign Finnish winger Innala appeared first on The Rink.

Video captured Logan O’Connor yesterday, hitting the ice for the first time since surgery in March. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado

@ItsSteveSalazar pic.twitter.com/PuXSL5FuC8

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 13, 2024

What this means

With the return of former Denver Pioneer, the Avalanche can count on a gritty middle-six forward. He is a master at killing penalties, leading the team in short-handed goals with three. After his departure, Colorado had to find their way on the penalty kill, lacking his aggressive speed and tactics. This would frazzle the opponent and lead to scoring opportunities for O’Connor.

Logan O’Connor is taking in the practice from the bleachers #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/LJgQUrav8L

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 4, 2024

O’Connor has become known for his speed around the league. This season, he had a top speed of 23.11 miles per hour (mph). This was enough to place him among the 88th percentile in the league. The pesky forward would see just over two and half speed bursts over 20 mph per game, with an injured hip.

LOGAN O'CONNOR HAS HIS FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK! @Avalanche | #GoAvsGo | #NHLNShowcase pic.twitter.com/tRDVuvrhzZ

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 20, 2024

The Avalanche desperately need O’Connor’s determination and refusal to give up on a play. He is relentless on his forecheck and would chase down opponents from one end of the ice to the other.

Conclusion

O’Connor’s return will bring welcomed relief to the very shallow depth pool on the right side. I don’t think there were ever questions about O’Connor’s health, but updates are always nice to have. As of right now, Mikko Rantanen, O’Connor, Oskar Olausson and Nikolai Kovalenko are the only right wingers signed to the team. Olausson will be returning from shoulder surgery himself and Kovalenko is still getting his feet wet. The team strongly felt the absence of the fan favorite in the last part of the season. His return will provide a much-needed spark after a playoff exit.

The post Logan O’Connor skates for first time since surgery appeared first on The Rink.

Sam Malinski

Sam Malinski is the most obvious candidate to step into the third pair next season. The rookie from Cornell University played 23 games on the Avalanche blue line tallying 10 points. Playing with the Colorado Eagles, Malinski was just as effective, playing 46 games and earning 27 points. Malinski saw time on the power play for both squads and would be the difference in Loveland. Malinski is an offensive defenseman with great puck carrying skills and a seeing eye snapshot. Familiarity with head coach Jared Bednar’s methods makes transitioning to full time easy for him.

Sam Malinski on the power play ties the game in the ELIMINATION GAME. His first of the playoffs!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/EZSEEaD0Ao

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 28, 2024

Sam Malinski just sent him to another world….#Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/KbzeaphAgn

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 13, 2024

Sean Behrens

Sean Behrens, fresh off of a NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver, joined the Eagles after signing his entry-level contract. As Behrens finished his collegiate career, they named him the NCHC best defensive defenseman. In the two games with the Eagles, he showed his comfort within a period and nailed down his first pro point. Behrens will provide some solid defense on the third pair and some mobility when given an opportunity. The rookie needs time to adapt to the Avalanche system, but a call up is probable early on.

Holland breaks the shutout but most importantly…. Sean Behrens gets his first pro point on the play!!!!! Foudy with secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zztgGVoop6

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

Jack Ahcan

Jack Ahcan had just one call up with the Avalanche last season and no subsequent action. Ahcan thoroughly impressed me during the Eagles’ season, and he has one more year left in his two-way contract. Leading the power play from the top, he consistently carried the puck into offensive territory. Ahcan surprised many as he regularly leveled defenders much bigger than his five foot nine-inch frame. His 38 points in 70 games played were among the top five skaters for the Eagles.

Jack Ahcan maybe a little guy (5'9") but the man sure can pack a punch…. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/GHQJjkXnzA

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 25, 2023

Potential re-signings

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson has been a pleasant surprise since he joined the Avalanche in 2021 on a professional tryout. Johnson earned himself a standard contract and won his only Stanley Cup that year. The Chicago Blackhawks would sign Johnson to a 35-plus contract and the Avalanche traded Andreas Englund to get Johnson back. He has been a workhorse the last three seasons, playing 74, 83, and 80 games. For less than one million dollars, Johnson would bring leadership and experience to the locker room.

blackhawks @ avalanche 10/13/2021

Jack Johnson (1st of season)

(72nd of career)#GoavsGo pic.twitter.com/mFOEYSmrgN

— random avs goal every day (@avsgoaleveryday) July 9, 2023

Brad Hunt

Brad Hunt was one of the many leaders in Loveland as he wore the captain’s “C” for the second straight year. Hunt spent most his first year in the organization in Denver, playing 47 games for the Avalanche. This journeyman has traveled extensively throughout the league and possesses one of AHL’s most feared slapshots. This would put him on the Eagles’ top power play unit the entire season and lead the team with 49 points. Hunt’s bright energy would benefit both Denver and Loveland, and he would likely come back for a salary of less than one million dollars.

Tanner Kero tips in his seond of the night and third point! Brad Hunt with his best Sam Girard impression to set the shot up! Olofsson has the secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/5n8jBGfjRR

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 2, 2024

Conclusion

Avalanche could easily benefit from these affordable back-end options. Sean Walker’s contract expiring creates an issue that will need to be addressed, but Colorado cannot afford him in the long run. Malinski will receive most of the minutes, but one spot remains. The key problem may be size. The small size of the third pair could lead to issues. Colorado should explore signing a free agent with size.

The post Existing options for Avalanche at defense appeared first on The Rink.

Alexandar Georgiev

Alexandar Georgiev will enter the final year of his three-year contract with the Avalanche this coming season. He saw a career high 63 regular season games and 11 playoff games. During this time, Georgiev would put together a 38–18–5 record in the regular season, his second best season to date. This last season would see his lowest save percentage (.897) of his young career in the NHL, with a debate that fatigue or the defense was the issue. His numbers are comparable to when he was with the New York Rangers, as Georgiev has played four more games with Rangers (129). Unless something goes wrong, Georgiev will carry another heavy workload next season.

Oh my Alexandar Georgiev!#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/EffocnQpuf

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 10, 2024

Justus Annunen

Justus Annunen is the first homegrown goaltender for the Avalanche since Adam Werner (drafted 2016 and played two games in 2019). With the injury to Pavel Franzouz, Annunen unexpectedly spent most of the year as a backup in Denver. Annunen played a career high 14 games for the Avalanche and had two shutouts. He impressed management so much that he earned a one-way contract in March. He would even win the hearts of fans as he made spectacular saves and the chant of “JUICE” would live on. Annunen will probably get 15–20 starts next season.

A moment he'll never forget!

Justus Annunen records his first career @pepsi shutout in a big 5-0 win for the @Avalanche. pic.twitter.com/bKpBMTYp9E

— NHL (@NHL) March 1, 2024

Trent Miner

Trent Miner is working on becoming the next homegrown goaltender after Annunen. Drafted in 2019, a year after Annunen, Miner has been waiting for an opportunity to jump to the Eagles and the AHL. Annunen, going down to injury for six weeks, gave the chance, along with a poor showing by Holm. Miner won the crease in Loveland, along with a new contract. He kept the Eagles in games as his confidence grew with coaching from former Avalanche Peter Budaj. Miner saw career highs in every category with the Eagles and as things look toward the future, he will be the starter in Loveland next season.

Awesome work on one end by Miner followed by a RILEY TUFTE goal! Brad hunt and Tanner Kero add even more points tonight. Eagles have scored 4 unanswered!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/HJalYxPOkb

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 2, 2024

Jake Barczewski

Jake Barczewski is a goaltender that is on an AHL contract for the Eagles, but is currently Colorado’s fourth option. Barczewski most recently led the University of Michigan to the Frozen Four but fell to Boston College. As the starter for the Wolverines, Barczewski would hold a 20–14–3 record and 2.84 goals allowed average. He made his professional debut on April 20, 2024 against the Ontario Reign and get rattled in a 7–3 loss. If the Avalanche cannot sign a backup for Miner, he will be the only option, otherwise Barczewski will head to Utah as the starter.

With 43 seconds left.

Jake Barczewski came with with a huge save! pic.twitter.com/Tq6mmYtQxc

— ashlyn ◡̈ (@AshlynKonieczka) March 30, 2024

Options

Matt Villalta

A goaltender that has been at the top of the ranks in the AHL the past couple of seasons, Matt Villalta is due to be a Group 6 unrestricted free agent this summer. He most recently played for the Tucson Roadrunners and made his well deserved NHL debut with Arizona Coyotes. This last season, Villalta would be part of the reason the Roadrunners jumped five positions in one season. Villalta would finish first in the AHL with 31 wins and a .911 save percentage. The Avalanche could sign him for under one million and have a great one-two punch in Loveland. Furthermore, he is used to a heavy workload and could be a backup in Denver if need be.

Check out this Save by Matt Villalta in the @banner_bank save of the month! pic.twitter.com/Abda6pMmRm

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 3, 2021

Oscar Dansk

Oscar Dansk was a thorn in the side of the Eagles this year as he had a .97 goals allowed average in three games. He is an agile goaltender that is quick to the post and has a ton of experience in the AHL. When Jacob Markstrom got injured and Dustin Wolf was sent to the Flames, the Calgary Wranglers gave Dansk significant starting time. He would be an excellent pickup by Colorado to have as a fourth option and would cost less than one million.

Wolves goaltender Oscar Dansk with an absolute robbery on Brett Pedersen. #MBMoose pic.twitter.com/39JpFzSmv4

— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) February 8, 2020

Conclusion

Villalta and Dansk are just a couple of suggestions that the Avalanche could get on the cheap this offseason. Either way, Colorado has a goaltender depth problem, and it needs to be solved quickly. If Georgiev or Annunen were to go down to injury, the domino effect would be problematic. This was clear at the end of the season when Annunen fell ill and the team had to recall Prosvetov. When Miner got injured with a lower-body injury, the Eagles had to rely on Arvid Holm for a back-to-back game. Holm had not played in over a month. A cheap fourth option and even a fifth option would solidify the depth and prevent issues in the future. As things are, they cannot go into the start of the season with their options this thin.

The post Goalie situation is thin for Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

pic.twitter.com/7N9rRKYmwT

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 23, 2024

The progress

“It has been a slow form of torture,” Landeskog said about watching his teammates playing. He has been out of the lineup now for 162 regular season games. In both seasons, the Avalanche made it to the playoffs but faced earlier-than-anticipated eliminations.

Gabriel Landeskog posted this as of 20 minutes ago. It appears that everything went as anticipated for his surgery. #GoAvsGo #Avs @FullPressNHL pic.twitter.com/ifDUX4tUxI

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 11, 2023

“I’ve felt really good now for two straight months physically, with no setbacks, major or minor,” Landeskog said. “That’s a real positive.” The last few weeks there has been an obvious ramp up in his rehabilitation. Landeskog has added stops and increased the speed that he is skating around the rink. At one point, Landeskog joined his teammates for the morning skate and did a few drills.

The Swede touched on when he could return to the team and jokingly told everyone “between September and April.” But realistically, you can probably expect a return in the first half of the season. If the were to miss 10 games and 24 days, the Avalanche could start the captain on long-term injured reserve. It will take some time and him seems to understand that. The last game the captain saw any contact was on June 26, 2022, when he lifted the Cup in Tampa.

Landeskog is taking some shots here… looks almost normal. Towards the end, MacKinnon sets him up for a couple of shots from one knee #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/9LH07vZwU3

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

“We can’t go and get a guy the caliber of Gabe,” General Manager Chris MacFarland said. “He deserves the time.” MacFarland reemphasized the fact that Landeskog has worked hard through the rehab process and is still the leaders of the club.

Conclusion

There are still some unknowns with Gabriel Landeskog, but he understands he is only 12.5 months into what could be an 18 month process. With Landeskog increasing his activity as of late, it is only an encouraging sign that things are moving along as they should. Fans should not be upset that Landeskog is gone, they should be happy that everything is going so well.

The post Landeskog gives updates on rehab appeared first on The Rink.

We have re-signed Trent Miner to a one-year contract.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/3dtyOaLj8H

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 21, 2024

Miner’s career year

Miner put forward career numbers in every category for his AHL play this season. He posted a 9–6–1–1 record in 18 games. His 2.10 goals allowed average was the best of all the goaltenders that played for the Colorado Eagles this past season. Miner’s .930 save percentage was also top on the team.

Trent Miner #GoAvsGo
1 year / 2-way extension

NHL: $775,000
Minor: $100,000https://t.co/UaJLV2yO6V

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 22, 2024

Earlier in the season, Justus Annunen went down to a lower body injury. This opened up an opportunity for Miner to battle with Arvid Holm for the crease. As Holm’s numbers slipped, stepped in and seized the chance to grab the starting crease. Head coach Aaron Schneekloth was getting to a point that Miner was going to get the net without hesitation every night. This even would happen on back-to-back games.

With a restricted free agent status coming up in July, Miner all but guaranteed himself an offer for next year.

Awesome work on one end by Miner followed by a RILEY TUFTE goal! Brad hunt and Tanner Kero add even more points tonight. Eagles have scored 4 unanswered!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/HJalYxPOkb

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 2, 2024

A lower-body injury that Miner suffered on March 20th would unfortunately take him out for the rest of the season. He would return to the bench for the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, but not see any game action.

Conclusion

Miner has become a goalie that the Eagles came to depend on this last season. With the poor performance of Holm, he stepped up when they needed him and earned his contract. He may have been rough around the edges to start the year, but goalie coach Peter Budaj quickly fixed that. We have seen a similar improvement with Annunen once Budaj could work with him as well. Miner could see his first NHL game this season and it has been a long time coming.

The post Avalanche sign Trent Miner to new contract appeared first on The Rink.

Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog, who underwent knee surgery just over a year ago, now has missed 164 regular season and 18 playoff games. Head coach Jared Bednar said after being eliminated this season that he “was far from playing, but the hope is to get him back next season.” The progress that Landeskog has made in his rehabilitation has been significant. He has gone from being to push off last season to taking part in a drill last week. At the time of surgery, the team established a return date of 12-18 months. So it could be anytime or as late as November 2024 to take contact.

I would think that Landeskog will stay on long-term injured reserve until he receives clearance to play in an NHL level game. This leaves the question of how the Avalanche approach the summer knowing that he could be out a little longer. Do they bring up a forward from the Colorado Eagles to fill in and then send him back? Or do they stay where they are?

Landeskog is taking some shots here… looks almost normal. Towards the end, MacKinnon sets him up for a couple of shots from one knee #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/9LH07vZwU3

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

Valeri Nichushkin

On May 13, 2024, the NHL announced that Valeri Nichushkin was entering stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Not only did this occur moments before game four against Dallas, but the NHL announced that Valeri Nichushkin would face a six-month suspension without pay. It was his second departure from the team during a playoff run. On January 15,2024, Nichushkin entered the assistance program and was away from the team for 40 days.

Official word has been released by the league that Val Nichushkin has entered the Player Assistance Program. #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/S1w6TzZQuf

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) January 15, 2024

Nichushkin has a cap hit of $6.125 million per year. The Avalanche are unsure if they can use that money right now because they do not know if he will apply for reinstatement in November. Unfortunately, the Avalanche have no way to get out of his contract. Colorado would have to either trade him or buy him out. The issue with a trade is that because of the risk of taking him, there wouldn’t be much return. With the buyout, Nichushkin would be on the payroll until the 2035–36 season. This situation, coupled with Landeskog’s return, makes it a very difficult offseason.

Jonathan Drouin

The Avalanche signed Jonathan Drouin last July, and he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Coming off of his best 2018-19 season in the NHL since his year in Tampa, he still searches for the Stanley Cup. Drouin put together 56 points and finished with a 51.8 faceoff percentage, his highest since his rookie season. He cost the Avalanche only $825,000 this season, but proved he is worth a lot more. He told Meghan Angley of DNVR that he would like to return to Denver. However, there might be a price involved. You can expect somewhere around $2-3 million, at the very least.

Mikko nails his fourth of the postseason with the goal from the backdoor and the pass from Drouin. Avs take the lead! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/4B1i9pnOYY

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 18, 2024

Drouin ties his career high in points of 53 that he set in 2016-17 with the Tampa Bay Lightning #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/qmnusQQ6PJ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 8, 2024

Conclusion

The work to be done is only the start of the challenges the Avalanche will face this summer. Colorado will have 15 additional players hit free agency this summer. They must decide who stays and who goes. Zach Parise’s retirement has already determined his fate, but deciding on the others will be challenging. I will cover some of these players in later articles, so stay tuned to our site!

The post What is next for the Avalanche? appeared first on The Rink.

Mikko nails his fourth of the postseason with the goal from the backdoor and the pass from Drouin. Avs take the lead! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/4B1i9pnOYY

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 18, 2024

Takeaways

— The Avalanche obviously had issues clearing the puck out of the zone again. I had mentioned that this was a problem in game four, but during the first overtime it was an enormous problem. During the first overtime, the Avalanche officially had four shots on goal. They had seven scoring chances, but Dallas had 12 chances. The puck was getting in deep and the Avalanche were having problems carrying the puck out of their own zone. In the first overtime, Colorado would spend over two minutes in their own zone.

Benn strikes again #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/4XfCH6Z0Xc

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 18, 2024

— The Avalanche did not get double digit shots on goal in any period this game. For a team that averaged 33 shots per game (fifth in the league), they sure were not shooting like it. Colorado was failing to drive to the net. On top of that, they could not get the puck in the offensive zone for any extended periods. The most shots on goal that they could muster in a period were nine. Dallas peppered Alexandar Georgiev all night long, and for extended shifts.

— Georgiev is the one that kept the Avalanche in the game. Multiple mistakes by the defensive core meant Georgiev had to scramble to cover the net. He would keep the Stars scoreless in the first overtime, even through extended shifts by Dallas despite brief respite. His .949 save percentage is exactly what the Avalanche needed from him. He was calm and collected in the crease compared to earlier in the season where he looked panicked.

Duchene, who was the reason for the reversal of the goal, scored to advance Dallas to the WCF. He gets to play playoff hockey… #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/0evfxPzkpz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 18, 2024

Conclusion

You can blame Valeri Nichushkin all you want for the loss in this series, but there is a certain point where Colorado had to move on. It became obvious they did that in game five of the series. Was it a shock to them? Yes. But head coach Jared Bednar said he did not want to use that as an excuse. Now it is time to look towards the future. The Avalanche are in a unique salary cap situation. The unknown status of Gabriel Landeskog, if Nichushkin will/can come back, and what unrestricted free agents they try to keep. We will have answers to these questions in the coming months. In the meantime, rest up, relax and recover.

Colorado #GoAvsGo offseason preview:
Roster: 14 (8F/4D/2G)
Cap Hit: $71.78M
Cap Space: $15.91M

Notable RFA:
C Mittelstadt

Notable UFAs:
Y Trenin
B Duhaime
A Cogliano
J Drouin
Z Parise
J Kiviranta
S Walker
J Johnson
C Jones

Draft:
1st x1
4th x1
5th x2
6th x1
7th x2

*Landeskog…

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 18, 2024

The post Duchene wins it in double OT, eliminates Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Cale Makar really stepped up in a big way for the Avalanche tonight. He produced two goals in just over 26 minutes of ice time. In his previous 9 playoff games, Makar had only produced three goals. One of those goals was against Dallas in game one. Since then, the Stars have shut down Makar. He looked a lot more comfortable tonight, handling the puck and skating through the zone.

DUDE WHERE'S MAKAR?! Cale Makar with the 80mph rocket on the PP to tie the game back up! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/xA7LJZbfBU

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 16, 2024

DUDE WHERE'S MAKAR (X2)?!!!! Cale scores in the bloop shot through the 5 hole for the 2 goal lead! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/bLslLFbNNF

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 16, 2024

— Nathan MacKinnon openly admitted to the press that he did not play well in game four. His zero points and a minus three were all the media could concentrate on. Tonight was a different story. MacKinnon awoke the beast and was carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making more attempts on the net. He would end the night with one goal and one assist and a plus one.

MacKinnon makes it a 2 goal lead once again!!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zfvkm3gkJV

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 16, 2024

— Special teams were everything that you would want it to be tonight. In the last eight power play chances, the Avalanche could not convert to score. Tonight, they scored twice on three chances. The penalty against Chris Tanev for high-sticking Mikko Rantanen may have been the game changer. Even though it was only a two-minute minor, the Avalanche wasted no time as Makar pocketed his second of the night. The penalty kill unit also killed three of four, making an enormous difference in the game.

Not sure why the Tanev penalty was not a double minor…. there was obvious blood coming from Rantanen's nose #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/16LRJv5HwH

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 16, 2024

Conclusion

This was the complete opposite of what we saw in game four on Monday night. The Avalanche were more aggressive and quicker to the puck. Yeah, you say that athletes have to put feelings aside when things happen, but the Valeri Nichushkin issue clearly affected them. And I don’t blame them one bit. But they looked as if they moved on tonight and adjusted their game. If the Avalanche go into game six on Friday night anything like this, Dallas better watch out.

The post Makar and MacKinnon step up in game five victory appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Colorado failed to exit their own zone the entire game. They struggled to get the puck out of the defensive zone in the first period, allowing 16 shots on goal. The Avalanche were lucky to escape the period with only one goal against. Georgiev was looking like classic Georgiev as he was making save after save. 

Cale Makar loses the puck, and Wyatt Johnston takes advantage with a shorty #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/2iOoK4nVxD

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

— Colorado failed to forecheck throughout the game. Their bread and butter has become to put pressure on the opposing team and they were not doing that tonight. Dallas was beating them to the puck and then out skating them. Having to dump and change was not helping, either. By the time the Avalanche were gaining possession of the puck, it was the end of the shift and time to change. This was leading to them chasing Dallas in the offensive zone from the start of the shift to the end of the shift. The one time Colorado did forecheck, it led to Casey Mittelstadt’s goal.

Mittelstadt finally puts the Avs on the board with some hard work by Drouin #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zUZmY8AYjj

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

— Caleb Jones may not be the option if Toews is still sick in game five. Jones was plus one only because he was on the ice during Mittelstadt’s goal. But he had two penalties that cost the Avalanche momentum and Dallas converted on the penalty. The Avalanche may need to go with a more offensively minded defenseman like Same Malinski. He would bring some play that is like Cale Makar in style, as well as some aggressiveness to the blue line. 

Wyatt Johnston with his second of the night as the Stars take a 2 goal lead. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/pYe8LBEWFN

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

Conclusion

The Avalanche will need to learn to play without the efforts of Valeri Nichushkin in the lineup. Yes, he brings a lot to the table, but Colorado needs to adjust and quickly. Drouin can bring some offensive power back to the lineup, but not in the same way that Nichushkin did. Drouin will have to use his speed and snapshot to his advantage. Failure to make the adjustments for these two will doom the Avalanche to an early exit. They will head to Dallas on Wednesday for game five and try to avoid elimination.

The post Morale takes beating as Avalanche lose game four to Stars appeared first on The Rink.

Val Nichushkin has been placed in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He is suspended without pay for a minimum of six months before he can be reinstated. #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Y3jeGoq5KF

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 14, 2024

Last year

Last season, as the Avalanche took on the Seattle Kraken, Nichushkin had an incident in his hotel room in Seattle. This incident led to him leaving the team for the rest of the playoffs as the Avalanche were eliminated. There were rumors that alcohol and drugs were involved, especially with the condition of the woman that was found in the hotel.

WATCH: Body camera video obtained by 9NEWS shows the moments after police arrive at the Colorado Avalanche team hotel in Seattle on April 22. The team called 911 for EMS for an intoxicated woman found in Val Nichushkin's room.

Nichushkin isn't at the hotel when police arrive. pic.twitter.com/jWWf9Xn6cd

— Steve Staeger (@SteveStaeger) June 2, 2023

Enters program

The Russian forward would later return to the team right before training camp began. Nichushkin would start having himself a career season and then on February 26, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He would remain away from the team for 40 days as the Avalanche struggled to put offense together.

ESPN confirmed during the pregame program that Nichushkin had failed a drug test. It is unclear what that “drug” was.

Conclusion

This will be the third time that he has left the team for reasons other than injury in less than 12 months. These days, it is not wrong to seek help for issues that he is having, be it mental or otherwise. The problem that he is having is hurting the team and now the Avalanche management needs to consider this. Should Nichushkin stick around? I know some fans will say to keep him and some will say to kick him to the curb.

One thing is for sure, if he violates his treatment plan again, there may not be any coming back. Nichushkin now risks a one year suspension and a ban from the NHL.

These are the various stages of the program pic.twitter.com/G9pDaWFmur

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 14, 2024

The post Nichushkin enters Stage 3 of NHL Player Assistance Program appeared first on The Rink.

With a 5–3 loss on Thursday and the series tied at one, the return to Ball Arena would be crucial. The Avalanche have not led a game at any point during the series, and a first period push from Dallas kept the trend going.

Overview

As opposed to game two, game three didn’t have game-changing penalties. Rather, the team struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first period. Spending 20 minutes out of sync in the offensive zone proved too deadly.

Dallas got on the board at the end of the first period, leaving the Avalanche scrambling to gain a lead.

Logan Stankoven breaks the ice for Dallas #TexasHockeypic.twitter.com/kaqaDL8Z43

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 12, 2024

The team was consistently missing passes and over skating pucks. Dallas picked up the pucks left for teammates and ran with them without hesitation.

The second period held a better performance, even resulting in a goal from Mikko Rantanen off of a rebound from Nathan MacKinnon. Not only was this goal a relief on the scoreboard, but it also was a stark contrast from the game two statistics. Neither Rantanen nor MacKinnon recorded a shot, which is not a good look for two top-line forwards.

MIIIIIKKOOOOOO RAAAANTANEN!#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/4Wi6vDNuRM

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 12, 2024

The Avalanche consistently outshot the Stars, and their lone goal took 20 shots to find. Colorado had several chances in high-danger zones, but Stars goalie Jake Oettinger seemed to beat them to the punch every time.

A second Stars goal going on the scoreboard killed Colorado’s momentum, leaving the team at a 2-1 deficit at the end of the second period.

Tyler Seguin responds for Dallas thanks to Dadonov's great feed, restoring the Stars lead!#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/PesLo6znKZ

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 12, 2024

The home team found their saving grace in the performance of Alexandar Georgiev, who has been locked in since the series against the Winnipeg Jets. He had several clutch saves to keep the game within reach for Colorado.

Huge save from Georgiev. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/nqAcCDwkMf

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) May 12, 2024

The coach pulled Georgiev from the ice late in the third period in favor of the extra attacker. The team could not keep the puck under control in the offensive zone, allowing the Stars to net two additional goals.

Takeaways

In games like this, especially in the series against Dallas, the game changers come down to the little things. The Avalanche could not convert on any of their three power plays and had 12 giveaways.

The top defensive pair picked up five shots on goal each, with MacKinnon and Rantanen each picking up four. At the very least, this is an improvement from their last showing, where MacKinnon and Rantanen came up empty.

The team failed to play a full 60 minutes, appearing lackadaisical in the third period despite the Stars clearly becoming fatigued.

The two teams will face off again on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Denver.

The post Avalanche fail to find groove in game three against Dallas Stars appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The Avalanche were not aggressive enough in their own zone. Forwards were not stepping up on the defensemen to take the puck away. The Colorado defense frequently drifted to one side, leaving the back door wide open. This happened on the first goal for the Stars. A quick pass across the zone helped, but everyone had shifted to one side.

Hello! -Miro, probably pic.twitter.com/aquSrIfaIn

— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 10, 2024

— The Avalanche need to stop hurting themselves. Throughout the night, the Avalanche had six penalties and gave the Stars five power play chances. Dallas was able to convert on two of those five chances. The Avalanche could have easily prevented four out of the six penalties. Nathan MacKinnon and Josh Manson both threw the puck over the net, incurring a delay of game penalties. The Avalanche were penalized not only once, but twice, for having too many men on the ice. Watch who you are changing for. I get it, you are trying to gain that extra step, but this has become a recurring problem for Colorado in the playoffs.

Heiskanen with his second of the game on the Walker penalty #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/XiR7ApEdOi

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 10, 2024

— There was a very questionable hit in the second period by Jamie Benn on Devon Toews. As Toews was going around the net with his head down and shoulder lowered, Benn slammed into him. The impact of the hit drove Toews’ head into Wyatt Johnston’s chest, causing whiplash. Officials would review the play and not make a call, but Toews had to leave the game for a short time for concussion protocol. The play itself was dangerous on both ends. Toews had his head down and Benn made contact very close to the head.

Jaime Benn nails Devon Toews with his head down….. there is no penalty on the play. Toews has left the bench for the locker room #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zy7suMfDHm

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 10, 2024

Full quote from #Avs coach Jared Bednar about the Jamie Benn hit on Devon Toews … pic.twitter.com/0yEWK1OncJ

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) May 10, 2024

— The three-goal comebacks are not sustainable. The Avalanche have five comeback wins where they were down by three goals. This is more than any other team this year. It is also not a good way to play hockey. It is always exhausting to trail and fight your way back.

Duhaime gets his first career playoff goal with an assist by the equipment staff! Avs down by 2. Cogliano as the only assist #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/goCKdy1bau

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 10, 2024

Conclusion

The Avalanche will need to clean up the penalties that only hurt themselves and help the Stars. Dallas is converting their power play chances at a 30.3 percent rate, the fourth highest of playoff teams. The ice was an issue because of the heat in Dallas today, Colorado will have to take advantage of the faster ice when they get home. The Avalanche will need to score early and often. Scoring early and gaining momentum will make them unstoppable. The Avalanche will meet the Stars again for game three on Saturday night in Denver.

The post Avalanche comeback falls short in loss to Stars appeared first on The Rink.

With his 19th postseason goal, Cale makes franchise history.#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/GXRgqvcztd

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 8, 2024

Takeaways

— It took the whole first period for the entire team to get back to game pace. During the first period, the Avalanche were keeping up, mostly; they just lacked that extra step. They were failing to do a lot of the things that have given them success to this point. That is part of the reason Dallas got the three goal lead. Colorado was having at some points even getting out of their own zone, allowing Dallas extended looks on Georgiev and wearing him out early.

MacKinnon and Rantanen get caught behind the net, and the puck gets taken away for the Stars' first tally #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/9oQdRCJxEl

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 8, 2024

— The Avalanche needed to shut down the neutral zone and do it quickly. The whole first period, the Stars had no issue with puck movement through the neutral zone. Once the Avalanche shut that down in the second, Dallas only got three shots on goal in the middle frame and four in the third frame. It had to become a total team effort, forwards were back checking and defensemen were forechecking. This would pinch the play to a point of a turnover and Avalanche control of the puck.

— Georgiev, despite a rocky start to the game, saved the day in overtime. He had to come through with six key saves to keep the Avalanche in the game, including a massive cross-crease save to steal the game. His .667 save percentage in the first period would improve to .864. It is something that still needs improvement, but he shined at the right times in the overtime win.

What a save! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/2gjaaLkevT

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 8, 2024

— Miles Wood tallied his third goal of this playoff campaign. It was also his first career overtime goal in either the regular season or playoffs. Wood has become a key piece to the depth of the Avalanche with his speed through the neutral zone, very similar to Logan O’Connor. Wood’s ability to put pressure on a man with the puck has become his bread and butter.

MILES WOOD WINS IT IN OT AND THE AVS TAKE A 1-0 LEAD IN THE SERIES!!!!#Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/IDReLrvPWe

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 8, 2024

Miles Wood isn't the only person in his family to score an overtime goal in the #StanleyCup Playoffs. His father, Randy, achieved the feat in Game 6 of the 1995 Conference Quarterfinals with Toronto.#NHLStats: https://t.co/ySXOlNynHI pic.twitter.com/uICAqS8EXO

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 8, 2024

Conclusion

If the Avalanche can come out with all cylinders firing on Thursday night, it should be more of an evenly matched game. The Stars will have a little more trouble getting to the net and the Avalanche can push the play a little harder earlier in the game. Georgiev has shaken off some of the rust and hopefully got that one terrible game out of the way. History has told the Avalanche the key to the series with Dallas is not to let it get past five games.

The post Wood has career moment to win in OT for Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

It doesn't take long for Nichushkin to strike back after a feed from Toews and Rantanen. We have a tie game #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/dAUvX2ivdX

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 1, 2024

Takeaways

— Nichushkin and Lehkonen led the way for the Avalanche. They are the only set of teammates to have five-game goal streaks to open the playoffs. Tonight, Lehkonen was credited with a goal that Neal Pionk deflected. Nichushkin opened the scoring for the Avalanche in the first period. Both have been essential to the team and four-game win streak Colorado had to take the series.

Nichushkin and Lehkonen have been quite the goal-scoring duo for the @Avalanche pic.twitter.com/WoX0U85138

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 1, 2024

Lehkonen gets credit for a goal after the puck bounces off of Pionk and into his own goal #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/WJA7eZge2I

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 1, 2024

— Scoring came from all around the team, not just the top-three or top-six. Goals came from 12 different skaters during the series. Two of them, Yakov Trenin and Casey Mittelstadt, are trade deadline acquisitions. Zach Parise, who had to step into the first-line role with Jonathan Drouin injured, had two goals. Eleven players provided assists in the series as well, proving even more that scoring is being spread out.

Yakov Trenin gets his own rebound and buries the goal to gain the lead for the Avs. Manson is the only assist at the moment #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Z3PasEdJhz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 1, 2024

— Alexandar Georgiev proved everyone wrong. Everyone was calling for the man’s head after a game one disaster, but he shut out the noise. If anything, Georgiev used the criticism as fuel to fire. He allowed seven goals in the first game and has not allowed over three goals every game thereafter. He would finish the series with a .900 save percentage and 3.03 goals allowed an average. That is high, but with the rate that the Avalanche are scoring, it is more manageable than seven.

Conclusion

The Avalanche fan base was extremely worried after game one in the series. Now they are the most confident I have ever seen them. Georgiev has improved to win the hearts of the fans back. The depth soring is some of the best that we have seen since…well 2022. Am I saying that this will be the year again? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Colorado is playing some of the best hockey that they have all year. The Avalanche now will head home and await the results of the Vegas-Dallas series. Who would you prefer?

The post Avalanche move on to second round in playoffs appeared first on The Rink.

Player Name Link= either puckpedia.com or eliteprospects.com

Any other link= original announcement of the contract signing or announcement of movement

Arrivals – Forwards

— Jere Innala — Signed a one-year, entry-level contract on June 13, 2024.

— Chase Bradley — Signed a two-year, entry-level contract on July 1, 2024.

— T.J. Tynan — Signed a one-year contract through 2024–25 on July 1, 2024. 

— Jayson Megna — Signed a two-year, one-way AHL contract on July 9, 2024 through the 2025–26 season. 

— Matthew Phillips — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche worth $775,000 at the NHL level on August 9, 1024.

Forwards

— Oskar Olausson — Second year of three-year, entry-level contract started in 2022-23.

— Nikolai Kovalenko —  Second year of two-year, entry-level contract started in 2023-24.

— Jean-Luc Foudy — Third year of three-year, entry-level contract started in 2021-22.

— Ondrej Pavel —  Second year of two-year, entry-level contract started in 2023-24.

— Matt Steinburg —  Second year of two-year, entry-level contract started in 2023-24.

— Ivan Ivan —  First year of  two-year entry-level contract signed on March 5, 2024.

— Chris Wagner —  One-year, two-way contract signed on April 3, 2024.

— Chad Hillebrand — Completed an amateur try-out agreement and will have an AHL contract for 2024-25.

— Jason Polin — Avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, two way contract on July 5, 2024. 

— Tye Felhaber — Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 12, 2024.

—  Keaton Mastrodonato — Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 12, 2024.

— Briley Wood — Had signed an amateur tryout agreement on April 16, 2024. It was announced that he had an AHL contract on September 18, 2024, but the terms were unclear. 

— Neil Shea — It was announced that he had signed an AHL contract on September 18, 2024, but the terms were unclear. 

—  Nikita Prishchepov — Signed a three-year entry-level contract on October 6, 2024. 

—   Mark Senden —  Signed a two-way AHL contract and was reported to be on the Eagles’ roster on October 2, 2024. The terms are unclear.

Free agents – Forwards

— Dalton Smith — Will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. 

— Peter Holland — Will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. 

Departures – Forwards

— Henry Bowlby — contract mutually terminated to join Rögle BK of the SHL on November 9, 2023.

— Ben Meyers — Traded to the Anaheim Ducks on March 8, 2024.

— Brett Stapley — Has agreed to a contract with HK Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga on May 29, 2024.

— Brandon Cutler — Has signed a contract with EC Kassel Huskies of the DEL2 in Germany on June 17, 2024. 

— Maros Jedlicka —  Had signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Colorado Eagles on April 18, 2024 and did not play any games while in Loveland. Jedlika chose to return to his junior organization on June 18, 2024 and play for HC Kometa Brno of the Tipsport Extraliga in Czechia.

— D.J. Busdeker — Signed a contract with the Augsburg Panthers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany on June 26, 2024. 

— Alex Beaucage —  He was not given a qualified offer by the Colorado Avalanche. Beaucage signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract with the Laval Rocket (MTL) on July 9, 2024. 

— Riley Tufte —  Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins organization on July 1, 2024.

— Spencer Smallman — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2024.

— Cédric Paré — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2, 2024. 

— Cal Burke — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 2, 2024.

— Tanner Kero — Signed a one-year contract with HV71 of the SHL in Sweden on July 5, 2024. 

— Fredrik Olofsson — signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the National League in Switzerland on July 8, 2024.

— Ryan Sandelin — Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Iowa Wild (MIN) on July 11, 2024.

Arrivals- Defenseman

— Jacob MacDonald — Returns to the organization on a two-year, two-way contract signed on July 1, 2024. 

— Calle Rosen — Returns to the organization for one-year, two-way contract that was signed on July 1, 2024.

— Bryan Yoon — Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 12, 2024.

—  Devante Stephens — It was announced that he had signed an AHL contract on September 18, 2024, but the terms were unclear. 

— Connor Mayer — It was announced that he had signed an AHL contract on September 12, 2024, but the terms were unclear. 

Defensemen

— Garrett Pyke — Completed an amateur try-out agreement and will start a two-year AHL contract through 2025-26.

— Sean Behrens — Completed an amateur try-out agreement and will start a three-year entry-level contract in 2024-25.

— Keaton Middleton — Final year of a two-year, two-way contract signed on February 25, 2023.

— Jack Ahcan — Final year of a two-year, two-way contract signed on July 1, 2023.

— Sam Malinski — Final year of a two-year, two-way contract signed on March 30, 2023.

— Saige Weinstein — Will start a three-year entry-level contract that was signed on October 6, 2023.

— Wyatt Aamodt — Avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on July 2, 2024. 

—  Derek Daschke — Signed a two-way AHL contract and was reported to be on the Eagles’ roster on October 2, 2024. The terms are unclear.

Departures – Defenseman

— Graham Sward— Had signed an amateur tryout agreement on April 16, 2024. The Avalanche lost rights to Sward on June 1st because he was not signed to an entry-level contract. Sward is now considered a free agent and able to sign with any team he chooses to.

— Josh Wesley —  Signed with HC Pustertal of the ICEHL in Italy on June 25, 2024.

— Gianni Fairbrother — He was not given a qualified offer by the Colorado Avalanche and hit the free market on July 1st. He signed a one-year contract with the Utah Grizzlies on September 3, 2024.  

— Nate Clurman — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization on July 1, 2024. 

— Corey Schueneman — Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 2, 2024.

— Kyle Mayhew — Signed a one-year contract with the Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) of the ECHL on July 16, 2024.

— Brad Hunt —  Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears (WSH) on August 2, 2024. 

— Michael Underwood —Signed a one-year ECHL contract with the Savannah Ghost Pirates on September 26, 2024. 

Goaltenders

— Trent Miner — Signed a one-year, two-way contract for the year 2024-25 on May 21, 2024.

— Jake Barczewski — Completed an amateur try-out agreement and will start a one-year AHL contract through 2024-25.

Additions – Goaltenders

— Kevin Mandolese — The Avalanche acquired his RFA rights on July 15, 2024. He officially signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche on July 16, 2024.

— Adam Scheel —  Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 30, 2024.

Departures – Goaltenders

— Arvid Holm — Has signed a three-year contract with Rögle BK of the SHL in Europe as of May 10, 2024. He was previously a Group 6 unrestricted free agent.

— Garrett Metcalf — forced into retirement due to health concerns after signing a one-year AHL contract on July 26, 2023.

— Ivan Prosvetov — Signed a three-year contract with CSKA of the KHL on August 1, 2024. 

Additions – Coaching Staff

— Dan Hinote — Joins the Avalanche organization again as an Associate Head Coach, taking Steve Konowalchuk’s place, on July 17, 2024. 

— Matt Zaba — Joins the organization as the new goaltending coach to replace Peter Budaj on August 7, 2024.

— Kim Weiss — After serving as a guest coach throughout the season and Development Camp, the organization has hired her to replace Hunter Diehl on August 7, 2024.

Departures – Coaching Staff

— Steve Konowalchuk — Associate head coach of the Eagles has been hired as head coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds (STL) as of May 20, 2024. 

— Peter Budaj — the goaltending coach left for an opportunity to join coach Greg Cronin in Anaheim with the Ducks on July 10, 2024. 

— Hunter Diehl — Has left the Eagles after accepting a new role as Director of Hockey Operations at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on July 22, 2024.

Updated October 7, 2024 12:37 PM MT

The post Colorado Eagles offseason player tracker: 2024 appeared first on The Rink.

The Abbotsford Canucks posed a challenge for the Eagles in their upcoming match. In the regular season, the Eagles were 4–2–2–0. They had already faced a 4–2 playoff loss on April 24.

The game was a series of “almost” for the first two periods of play. After the Abbotsford Canucks found the back of the net at the 14-minute mark of the first period, it was going to be a challenge for the Eagles to equalize. Colorado put up 26 shots in the first 40 minutes of play yet came up empty.

Here's a peek at the goal that put the Eagles trailing by one. #EaglesCountry #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/O1JWJK3VmP

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 28, 2024

Despite goaltender Ivan Prosvetov coming up big to keep the team within reach, opposing netminder Zach Sawchenko kept the onslaught of shots at bay. Prosvetov’s coolness in the net was encouraging to see. With a locked in goaltender, the team could go to work offensively.

Colorado’s frustration shined in several situations, forcing Prosvetov to bail them out. The second frame was full of pushing and shoving, nearly costing them a goal with a loose puck in play.

No matter what the Eagles did, the end seemed inevitable. Prosvetov’s penalty for interference allowed the Eagles to exploit the mistake. After 57 minutes of play, Sam Malinski accomplished what seemed like the impossible and found the back of the net.

Sam Malinski on the power play ties the game in the ELIMINATION GAME. His first of the playoffs!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/EZSEEaD0Ao

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 28, 2024

It took 42 shots, but the Eagles forced their second straight overtime game. Holding strong for nine minutes, the Eagles took it. After several battles in front of the net, Sawchenko proved to be the star of the show.

Canucks player Chase Wouters got the go-ahead goal for Abbotsford with puck luck to finish it. Wouters had a lucky deflection off of his stick and closed out the game and the Colorado Eagles season ends with a 2–1 loss.

WHO OTHER THAN THE CAPTAIN

Have a look at the goal that lauched us right into the the Pacific Division Semifinals! pic.twitter.com/UH1ylksX0M

— X – Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) April 29, 2024

“It’s probably the worst way you can lose and probably the best way you can win,” defenseman Brad Hunt said. “I mean, It’s a roller coaster and we’re at the bottom.”

The key word in the last bout against Abbotsford was “almost.” In several scenarios, the Eagles almost put the puck in the back of the net. It was truly a game of chances and near misses.

Despite a season ending performance, head coach Aaron Schneekloth had insight and pride from the team’s performance.

“I mean, you get into an elimination game and overtime, and somebody’s got to be the hero, or you have a whole team full of disappointed players,” he said. “Look at the division we play in. All of those teams are capable of making a deep playoff run, and we were one of them. It’s unfortunate that two of these games go into overtime and we lose the second one.”

Abbotsford will now move onto the second round and take on the Ontario Reign.

The post Colorado Eagles season ends in emotional overtime loss appeared first on The Rink.

EAGLES WIN EAGLES WIN EAGLES WIN! Brad Hunt throws it from the blue-line for the game winner with the assist by Chris Wagner! Foudy with the secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Q9DykbvUNK

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 27, 2024

Takeaways

— The Eagles started the game strong and continued the pressure through the entire game. Colorado did not take a period or two to get their feet going like they did in game one. From the moment the puck dropped, they played fast. The Eagles continued their forecheck, and that has made them successful all season long. In the neutral zone, Cal Burke created a turnover, and from the slot, Nikolai Kovalenko showcased his talent with a snapshot. The Eagles used everything that made them successful through the entire season and it guided them to victory.

Cal Burke steals the puck and runs into the zone with a nice backhand shot for his second of the playoffs. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/at03wxJYRO

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 27, 2024

“I thought we were skating pressuring, creating some fantastic offensive plays,” said head coach Aaron Scneekloth. “We made some nice plays getting out of [the zone to] create some odd man rushes. To start it wasn’t exactly the start we wanted, of course, we would have liked to have held on and not put the stress on ourselves into overtime, but that’s playoffs.”

KOVALENKO GOAL ALERT! Brad Hunt with some pressure in the zone and drops it to Kovalenko for the goal. Burke with the secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/DnIllomvZh

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 27, 2024

— The defense needed to tighten up in a lot of situations. The Canucks crawled their way back from a 4–1 deficit to tie the game in the third. They were having issues clearing the puck and keeping traffic away from Ivan Prosvetov. The tying goal by Akito Hirose left him wide open in the high-danger zone and available for his own rebound. On the bright side, the defense did shut down the slot. Sheldon Dries has killed the Eagles from there all year long, including last game.

Hirose there to clean up the loose puck as Prosvetov attempts to dive back and cover the puck. Tied at 4. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/MUlZaeMy0U

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 27, 2024

Sean Behrens

Sean Behrens has now played in his second pro game in the organization. His first game against Ontario was a 7–3 blowout loss, but there were positives. He got his first pro point as an assist and the nerves out of the way. The difference in how Behrens was skating from the first to the second was like night and day. He became more mobile and confident in the action. To see his progress in just half of a game was outstanding. I can’t wait to see when he gets a chance for a few games consistently.

“I thought I was a little bit slow the first period of that first game but I think as the game went on, I did a good job adjusting and started moving my feet a little bit more,” said Behrens. “And you know, I feel like I’m more likely gonna adjust and keep up with the pace and be able to find success.”

Conclusion

The Eagles used every tool in their toolbox tonight. They were heavy on the forecheck, heavy along the boards, and pushed the play into the zone. These factors, combined with their speed, led to their success in the overtime win. If they can keep up this type of play and tighten up the defense, they will move onto the next round. Colorado plays again on Sunday afternoon in Loveland to wrap up the series. This time it will be do or die.

Interviews

The post Eagles avoid elimination with OT win against Abbotsford appeared first on The Rink.

This is Colorado’s first post-season series that they started on the road since 2019. With Alexandar Georgiev sporting a 42–15–7 record at home, this game was set in favor of the Avalanche. Colorado now leads the series 2–1.

First period

The first period was a quiet one for both teams. It wasn’t until 11 minutes in that Zach Parise lit the lamp. He scored his second goal of the series after notching one in the second period of Tuesday’s game.

Josh Manson, who secured his second assist this post-season, and Casey Mittelstadt, with his first, assisted Parise.

THAT PUCK FROM PARISE IS #ALLIN THE NET #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ljxpGa0nDv

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2024

Second period

This is where the Avalanche got shaky. Only five minutes into the second frame, Tyler Toffoli of the Jets made it 1–1. Dylan Demelo and Nikolaj Ehlers both picked up their first assists of the series and assisted him.

Everyone say THANK YOU LINE TWO pic.twitter.com/NGe5IkEqN9

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 27, 2024

The Jets opened the power play, scoring after Mittelstadt was called two minutes for hooking. Josh Morrissey, with a slap shot from March Scheifele and Sean Monahan, made its way past Georgiev.

ONE-FOR-ONE on the POWER PLAY pic.twitter.com/yACP6QDP83

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 27, 2024

The Avalanche left the second frame trailing 2–1.

Third period

Two minutes into the last frame of the night, Nathan MacKinnon recorded his second goal of the post-season to tie it at 2. Mikko Rantanen, who has four assists so far, and Cale Makar, who has five, assisted MacKinnon.

HE GOT THAT DOGG IN HIM #GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/YH8OeaJKPv

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2024

Devon Toews gets an unfortunate high stick to the face, which results in him heading to the locker room. Gabriel Vilardi served a double-minor for this, allowing the Avalanche another power play opportunity.

Valeri Nichushkin wastes no time from the near side shoving it past three Jets, including goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Both Rantanen and MacKinnon earn a multi-point night.

ALLLLLLL ABOARD #GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/osdEyIyoGv

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2024

With all the momentum swaying in favor of the Avalanche, Artturi Lehkonen scored eight minutes in. He received help from Mittelstadt and Toews, who returned from the locker room minutes after his departure.

The Avalanche continued to apply pressure, and the Jets crumble. Neal Pionk from Winnipeg threw a puck over the glass, which resulted in another Avalanche power play.

Ross Colton took advantage of the extra man and the redirect and shoved the puck past Hellebuyck. Mittelstadt picked up his third assist of the night and Sam Girard, his first.

ROSS COLTON SHOW US HOW IT'S DONE!#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/ktJJVuj2zc

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2024

To end the game, the Jets pulled Hellebuyck, which allowed Toews an empty-net, short-handed goal, making the final score, 6–2.

Takeaways

The Avalanche continue to prove their love of playing at home and having the extra man advantage. They will be back at Ball Arena on Sunday for a matinee game, before heading back to Winnipeg for game five on April 30th.

The post Avalanche shine on power play in 6–2 win over Winnipeg appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The Eagles could not get any sustained pressure in the Canucks’ zone. They had their moments, but Colorado did not have a time where they had to make any changes on the fly. When they were fully engaged, several players had difficulty maintaining control of the puck. The forecheck (except for one play) in the offensive zone was almost non-existent as well.

An odd man rush by the Canucks leads to a fantastic save by Prosvetov #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/GRFmA0QvS6

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 25, 2024

“It looked like we were a little nervous,” said head coach Aaron Scneekloth. “I felt like, didn’t see big pockets of our structure and our pace and our skating. It looked like we were on our heels a bit, trying to make perfect plays. And I gotta give a lot of credit to habits for putting a lot of pressure on us forces into making some decisions we usually can handle and make some mistakes, few individual errors and coverage and Instructure that gave them some big opportunities.”

Former Avs/Eagles forward Sheldon Dries strikes from the slot to take the lead for Abbotsford #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/0dousrYH5Q

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 25, 2024

— The power play converted on its first attempt and went silent afterwards. The first power play that Colorado had in the game started out very slow. It even was getting some screams from the fans as passes were not connecting. With under ten seconds left, Cal Burke could finish the attempt. After that, their second, third and fourth power plays were in shambles. They could not enter the zone and passes did not connect. Only a few shots made it to the net to cause a problem for Abbotsford.

Cal Burke

— Cal Burke has been a bright light at the end of the season despite everything that he has gone through. Burke had to leave the team several times because his mother had passed away from cancer. Despite this, he has always had a smile on his face in the hallways and talks. In his last ten games, Burke has 11 points (four goals and seven assists). He has brought a spark to the offense that has been necessary.

What started as a slow PP turned out great with a Cal Burke goal. Assisted by Ahcan and Malinski #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/TnvM8mEWMn

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 25, 2024

“He’s been outstanding,” said Schneekloth. “I mean, for the adversity that he’s gone through this year, to stay focused and keep his mind right when he shows up to the rink is credit to who he is as a person. How serious he takes his game and how he wants to maximize his performance every single night. He’s the guy that lays it out on the ice every single shift.”

Tanner Kero with some relentless pressure to steal the puck and get it in front to Ivan Ivan for the equalizer. Wyatt Aamodt with the secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zYLMQx6rH6

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 25, 2024

Conclusion

The Eagles now face elimination with the loss in a best of three series. They will have to put their nerves aside and meet the Canucks every step of the way on Friday night. If they do not, their season is over. The Eagles need more sustained pressure in the zone and to play a heavier game as well. Coach Schneekloth should have nothing to be ashamed of this season. He stepped into a role, knowing the challenges, and took them head on. He led Colorado to a fourth place finish in the division and kept the playoff streak alive.

Interviews

The post Eagles lose game one, face elimination appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Alexandar Georgiev needed to have a “prove me wrong” game, and he did. During game one, Georgiev had a save percentage of .696, in game two he turned it around to .933. Georgiev knew if he had another performance like game one, the crease would be open. The problem is, in the playoffs, once you make a change that early, you can’t go back. Georgiev showed why he had a league-leading 38 wins this season. He knew what he needed to do and did it.

THE JETS RETAKE THE LEAD AND THE CROWD GOES WILD pic.twitter.com/Xbuh5RiZH7

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 24, 2024

— The Avalanche depth activated by providing five of the 11 points scored by skaters tonight. Ross Colton had a surprising face-off win right to Miles Wood to shock Conor Hellebuyck. It would be the beginning of a shift in the Avalanche’s momentum. And the bottom-six players accomplished it. Yakov Trenin also handled a turnover to Andrew Cogliano. Zach Parise would get the goal, but the hard work paid off.

Miles Wood straight off the face-off win from Ross Colton ties the game! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/ESTVDMLiDO

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 24, 2024

Zach Parise scores with a nearly empty net after a chance created by Yakov Trenin and his strong forecheck. Andrew Cogliano credited with the assist. #Avs #GoAvsGo    @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/3Dc6FOuqyB

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 24, 2024

— Special teams came through tonight. In game one, the penalty killing unit of Colorado killed just one out of the two penalties. That one goal ended up being the difference in the loss. Tonight the penalty killing unit killed all three power plays that Winnipeg had. Artturi Lehkonen was blocking shots and taking charge. He definitely stood out on both ends of the ice tonight.

Conclusion

Colorado needed this game, not only to tie the series, but for their confidence as well. As the game went along, Georgiev grew more confident in his movements, but it still needs work. The offense needed a boost from top to bottom and they got it tonight. If they can continue this type of play, it will be a competitive series. The Avalanche will fly home and play again on Friday night at 8 PM in Denver.

The post Georgiev redeems himself in Avalanche victory appeared first on The Rink.

Connor Hellebuyck was going to be a hard goaltender to beat, but the Colorado offense was certainly capable of the task.

For the first game of the series, the Avalanche gave the Jets a hard-fought game. Despite falling to Winnipeg 7–6 in a heartbreaking five minutes, the Avalanche have a good foundation to build upon and will be dangerous for the remaining series.

The good

The team offensively exploded in the first period. Valeri Nichushkin lit the lamp first at the six-minute mark and was greatly outshooting their opponent.

Val Nichushkin's SNIPE breaks the ice for Colorado in Game 1!#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/mVgo4WPKW2

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 21, 2024

Though quickly down by one in the first period, the Avalanche turned things around in 18 seconds.

Miles Wood tied it up on a point-blank shot, quickly followed by a cannon from Nathan MacKinnon to take the lead once again. Colorado grossly outplayed the Jets in the first period, but got unlucky on the goals against.

WOODY #GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/5564E6bbJY

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 21, 2024

MACKINNON'S FIRST OF THE PLAYOFFS!#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/Ugi0G6j2Os

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 21, 2024

The team scored on both power play opportunities. Artturi Lehkonen’s power play goal in the third period encouraged the rest of the team to step up to the plate and bring the game within one goal in the last seconds.

Lehky lights the lamp #GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/k7uEvTAqnX

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 22, 2024

Colorado put up 45 shots on the net in the heartbreaking loss, almost double of Winnipeg. The offensive zone presence was dangerous.

Arguably, the most important part of the game was not just the goals for the team, but also the way they scored them. Despite being down 6–3 in the third period, the Avalanche still put up three goals, making the Jets work for the victory until the end.

The perseverance and determination were admirable and will be a weapon in their next game on Tuesday.

The bad

Unfortunately, the Jets capitalized on every single mistake the Avalanche made, whether big or small. During the first period, they tied up the game on a shot from the blue line through traffic and leaving Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev blind to the location of the puck.

Josh Manson set the scene for the second goal on a turnover, quickly giving Winnipeg a 2–1 lead.

2-1 Jets thanks to Vlad Namestnikov #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/TWgdVZFih0

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 21, 2024

The second period was when the game got out of hand for the Avalanche. Beginning the period at 3–3, a two-on-one scenario ended in a 4–3 lead, and Colorado struggled to get looks on the net.

The CAPTAIN Adam Lowry gives the Jets the lead, and then points at the cage he just scored on. TOUGH pic.twitter.com/fzpmP9YOuy

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2024

The second period yielded ugly results for the Avalanche. The goaltending wasn’t the primary issue, though it played a large part. Georgiev has frequently been under fire for his performances.

A seven-goal game is nothing to be proud of, especially when a team is putting up as many shots as Colorado was.

The Avalanche recorded 21 shots on the net in the third period alone, far outshooting the Jets at six. Out of the six Winnipeg shots, three of them were goals.

Throughout the game, it appeared there was a disconnect between the offense and defense. Players were getting the job done in the Winnipeg zone, yet were completely breaking down in their own zone.

Georgiev struggled to bring clutch saves to the table when the team needed him most. It could be a confidence issue, but it will be hard to recover from seven goals on 23 shots.

Analysis

Going forward, there is a lot to be excited about. The aggression, the grit, and the capability to put up goals is going to keep Colorado in the series.

Several players were absent from the lineup tonight. Jonathan Drouin will not be healthy enough to play in the first round, so the offense will have to adjust to a new formation to be successful.

Samuel Girard was also absent from the lineup, which could be part of the reason the defense seemed to struggle. Justus Annunen was out with an illness in this game, leaving AHL goaltender Arvid Holm in the backup net, undoubtedly adding pressure to every player on the ice.

On Tuesday, the Avalanche may opt to put Annunen in the net, assuming he is healthy.

The team should be able to walk away with a better game plan in mind and come out for the next game as explosive as this one.

The post Avalanche suffer heartbreaking loss to Jets in playoff opener appeared first on The Rink.

In today’s matinee, the Eagles scored in every period to gain home ice for the first round of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Eagles defeated the Reign 6–3 and will face the Abbotsford Canucks at home next week starting on Wednesday.

First period

“We handled some of their pressures a lot better tonight than we did last night,” head coach Aaron Schneekloth said. “The big thing is, we’re disciplined.”

A minute into the first, the Eagles proved they were here to fight for home ice. Eagles’ Jack Ahcan notched his sixth goal of the season from behind the goal line. Peter Holland and Corey Schueneman assisted Ahcan.

Jack Ahcan opens the scoring from below the goal line with the help of Holland and Schueneman #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/BBKpBP1Rag

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

From the right-wing circle, Francesco Pinelli put his one-timer shot just behind Ivan Prosvetov. Alex Turcotte, who achieved a hat trick in last night’s contest, and Taylor Ward assisted him.

Pinelli ties it up!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsCOL pic.twitter.com/2ezgZGUabN

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 21, 2024

Nikolai Kovalenko picked up his first goal as an Eagle not long after giving Colorado a 2–1 lead. Wrapping around the goal, Tanner Kero gave him the assist.

KOVALENKO GOAL ALERT!!!! Kero wraps around and throws it to Kovalenko in front for a dirty goal and the lead!! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/dbVXLCsQbo

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

Just minutes later and in a completely different game from last night, Riley Tufte scored his first goal of the night. He had help from Ahcan and Cal Burke on the delayed penalty.

“We felt we could put any line out there against anyone tonight. [The] players had the urgency to get a second boost of confidence,” Schneekloth said.

Tufte from the corner nails it in for the two goal lead and its a completely different game than last night!!! Ahcan and Burke with the assists #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/FoKIGQZgsH

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

With a one-man advantage, Tufte was able to gain another goal, bringing his season total to 23. Kovalenko picked up his second assist as an Eagle, after attaining one last night. Sam Malinski also received credit for an assist.

Malinski gets the puck down to Kovalenko and then Tufte finishes the job for his second of the game on the PP. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/HnKqwihS7A

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

“I think everyone was pretty dialed tonight,” Tufte says. “Just knowing what’s at stake. We get to stay at home for a week instead of going away for a week.”

Second period

Peter Holland secured his 14th goal of the regular season from a rebound on the remaining power play 36 seconds in. Malinski and Jean-Luc Foudy both collected a point on the play.

Holland strikes again for the second day in a row with the help from Malinski and Foudy #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/6LpPAPRSmj

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

The second frame continued with minimal stoppage. Until Jacob Doty from Ontario slammed a wrist shot past Prosvetov from Steven Santini and Nikita Pavlychev.

A career high for Dotes with his 7th of the season!!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsCOL pic.twitter.com/9QsolKRugw

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 21, 2024

To round out the period for the Reign, Martin Chromiak made it 5–3. Former Eagle Charles Hudon, who had been out for three weeks with an upper-body injury, assisted Martin Chromiak in making it 5–3. Santini also picked up another assist.

We don't know how it happened, we just know it did!! Chromiak goal!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsCOL pic.twitter.com/q4nuPN8ot1

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 21, 2024

Third period

To continue the quick period opening trend, Spencer Smallman lit the lamp 1:41 into the final period. Burke and Schueneman both picked up another assist.

SMALLY COMIN IN STRONG pic.twitter.com/xdkNXEsN0R

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 21, 2024

Takeaways

The 2024 Calder Cup schedule has been set. With this win, the Colorado Eagles will host the Abbotsford Canucks at Blue Arena on Wednesday and Friday. The series is the best two of three. So, the Eagles will host a third game on Sunday afternoon if necessary.

When asked about the one word the team would take into the playoffs, Schneekloth said, “Quickness. I feel like when we’re playing quick in all three zones, we’re playing our best and you’re gonna have to play quick against this Abbotsford team.”

Here is the Calder Cup playoff bracket.
Eagles vs. Canucks schedule
1 – Wed., Apr. 24 – Abbotsford at Colorado, 7:05
2 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Abbotsford at Colorado, 7:05
*3 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Abbotsford at Colorado, 3:05
All times are mountain gm 3 if necessary @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/tn0jTOFicP

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 22, 2024

The post Eagles acquire home ice advantage with 6-3 win over Reign appeared first on The Rink.

A fantastic save by Barczewski but Middleton slashes on the play #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/gWavpJ6AuL

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

Takeaways

— Nikolai Kovalenko is getting more comfortable on North American ice and at altitude. He was taking a lot longer shifts tonight compared to the previous two games, showing that he was building a tolerance. Kovalenko was more than willing to dig into the corners and make plays along the walls as well. This tells me he is adjusting to the smaller ice surface (200×85 compared to 200×100). Previous games, Kovalenko was staying towards the center of the ice, away from the walls.

“It’s hard for me first when I come,” Kovalenko said. “So every time it was just like I just started training. I feel like I am in no condition, like I was on vacation for two months and I feel like, what the hell? But I keep training every time in the gym with the trainer and I will be better at every game.”

— Behrens was understandably hesitant during the first period of the game. But as time passed, you could see that he was getting more comfortable. He was playing in a new system and with a new defensive partner (Jack Ahcan), so I can’t blame him. Behrens may not want to admit it, but for the first period, there is no trust until you get to know your partner. Once that happened, he started throwing shots towards the net and even drove the net.

One of the best shots the defense has so far in the game and it comes from Sean Behrens #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/OQkq6NCxsP

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

Holland breaks the shutout but most importantly…. Sean Behrens gets his first pro point on the play!!!!! Foudy with secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/zztgGVoop6

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 21, 2024

— Discipline killed the Eagles. Although they were weak calls in the first period, Ontario scored on two out of three of the power plays. The Reign would convert two more throughout the night as the penalty kill unit suffered. Not being penalized could have improved the Eagles’ chances of success.

Turcs x2!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsCOL pic.twitter.com/pHG5GwH2ML

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 21, 2024

Conclusion

The Eagles are now in a desperate state. They play their last game tomorrow and Abbotsford won tonight. As the standings sit at this moment, they are out-of-home ice. They MUST win in order to gain it back, or they will play the first round on the road. The veterans that are left need to take charge of the young players in the room and calm them down. Tomorrow at 3pm, they must win against Ontario one last time, it is a do-or-die situation.

The post Behrens makes pro debut in Eagles’ loss appeared first on The Rink.

Wishing you all the best in retirement, Frankie!

Thank you for all you've done for this organization. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/EzgR5yFMPA

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 19, 2024

History

For some in Northern Colorado, he is a legend. In his first year with the Eagles, Francouz helped lead the team to the playoffs. Frankie played 49 games in Loveland with a 27–17–4 record. The chants of “Frankie” would echo throughout the Budweiser Event Center after he made a great save.He played so well in his first year in North America that he earned himself the backup role in Denver the following season.

Playing behind Philipp Grubauer, Francouz saw almost equal time in the crease as a backup his first year. Surprisingly, Francouz would have a better goals allowed average than Grubauer.

Afterwards, the “Bubble” of Covid unfolded. Grubauer went down to injury, forcing Francouz to take the starting role. And the worst happened. The injured Czech was replaced by the third string goalie. The injury would keep Francouz out of action for several months. It took him nearly three months to return to action.

The 2020-21 season for Francouz turned into a complete loss. The injury he got in the bubble was diagnosed as a hip injury. It would require double hip surgery and missing the entire season.

Francouz would come back stronger, as he helped lead the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup Final and victory in 2022. With starting goalie Darcy Kuemper sidelined because of an eye injury, Francouz took over and excelled in the net for seven games. He would record a 6–0–0 record, which included one shutout in game two of the Western Conference Finals.

A lower-body injury in November 2023 would knock the goaltender out of competition for the entire season and the Avalanche would place him on long-term injured reserve. According to Ondrej Mach, Francouz had informed the club that he was going to retire during the summer.

What he is doing now

“All of a sudden I’m sitting here and I’m done,” Francouz told reporters. “It was fun, even if it was hard and complicated at times. Amazing times. I am grateful to ice hockey for the wonderful experiences,”

What Pavel Francouz said to the Czech media today?

Pavel actually informed #Avs about his retirement at the end of last summer (He had little worries what they would tell him but it went good, they get it his body has some limits)
He didn’t want to continue in taking pills…

— Eurolanche (@Eurolanche) April 19, 2024

Despite all of his injuries, “Frankie” brought Denver so much joy in the summer of 2022. If it weren’t for him, the Avalanche may have never won the Cup. He gave his body for the Cup. Now he has daily knee problems from so many years of playing a game. He is still involved with the organization. Goalie scouting is something Francouz enjoys and wants to continue.

Bothered by several injuries, 2022 Stanley Cup champion Pavel Francouz announced his retirement. He is going to be an analyst in Czechia for the upcoming World Championships https://t.co/mjF3iEuMDF

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 19, 2024

The post Francouz announces retirement appeared first on The Rink.

In their recent streak, they lost a three-goal lead in the final period against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday and a staggering 7–0 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets the night before.

The Edmonton Oilers provided just the confidence boost the team needed. In their last meeting, the Avalanche fell in a 6–2 loss on April 5.

Though the Oilers scratched most of their top players, it was still an opportunity for the roster to be put back into the winning mindset.

The good

The Colorado Avalanche came out of the gate hot, scoring four goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Valeri Nichushkin kicked things off just over one minute into the period, setting the pace.

Mikko Rantanen lit the lamp at the five-minute mark. Nathan MacKinnon, who marked his 139th season point, assisted his goal and tied the franchise record.

Nathan Mackinnon sets a new franchise record for points in a season with his 140th #GoAvsGo

— Avs Stats (@avsstats) April 19, 2024

Nichushkin tipped in his second goal of the evening on the man advantage, helping MacKinnon break the franchise record for points scored in a single season. Cale Makar secured the secondary assist, tallying his 250th career assist. Nichushkin’s goal was his 200th of his career.

Josh Manson found the back of the net to conclude the first period, and Zach Parise secured a goal at the end of the second period. Parise’s goal marked the last goal he would ever score in a regular season game, making it even more special.

A goal to remember forever for Zach! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/MNNHdCj2ZV

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 19, 2024

The prolific offensive performance resembled the team playing against the Golden Knights. The challenge would be holding onto it, which the team struggled to do in their last game.

The team recorded 27 shots on goal, 13 of them from the first period alone. The early jump on the Oilers was a promising look, especially on the doorstep of an undoubtedly challenging first round opponent.

The Avalanche posted Justus Annunen in the net, who looked confident and composed. He sported several massive saves for the team, showing his promise for a solid performance in the upcoming series.

Juiceeeee #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/yYPJ2UAvbT

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 19, 2024

The Avalanche only found themselves in the penalty box twice. Despite having a strong penalty kill, penalties can be costly and change the course of games.

The bad

Despite having a very successful game, Colorado still fell short in several key areas.

The team only won 32.7 percent of face offs and only capitalized on one out of four power play chances. The Avalanche also had seven giveaways. Most concerningly, the team only put up four shots in the final 20 minutes of the game.

The ability to finish a game is everything, and putting less than ten shots on the net in a period is asking for a last-minute comeback.

Alexandar Georgiev has had a spotty performance in the last games he has started. While Annunen is a reliable goaltender, relying on him for a deep playoff run is not a reasonable expectation. Georgiev had an opportunity for a get-right game against the Knights, but ultimately, he could not keep things under control in the net.

Arguably the most concerning aspect of the rest of the season is the health of the players. Jonathan Drouin went down hard on the ice in the second period and quickly limped off to the locker room. He is now listed as a lower body injury and head coach Jared Bednar had no comment regarding his timeline after the game.

Samuel Girard is in concussion protocol after a collision with his own teammate in the contest against the Jets. He is a fundamental defensive player, and his absence was noticeable. Coupled with the loss of Logan O’Connor, the Avalanche are catching the injury bug at a catastrophic time.

What’s next?

The Avalanche will be on the road for the first game of the seven-game series against the Winnipeg Jets. They will be on the road Sunday and Tuesday but return to Ball Arena on Friday and Sunday, April 28.

Colorado is 29–11–1 on the road but will have quite a matchup against Connor Hellebuyck.

Here is your FULL first round schedule for the playoffs. #Avs play Sun, Tues, Fri, Sun. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/8aH7yAvz3R

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 19, 2024

The post Avalanche find redemption against Edmonton Oilers appeared first on The Rink.

Chris Wagner finishes the play after a pass from Peter Holland and Jason Polin to put the Eagles back up by 2 #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/7qCBE4a9iJ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 18, 2024

Takeaways

— I am sure you all want to know about Nikolai Kovalenko. Tonight, he was not as much of a factor. He was playing on the tail end of back-to-back and at altitude. His positioning is solid, he just lacks some defense. He seems to float into the defensive zone a lot and fail to backcheck. It is understandable that he was tired tonight. He hasn’t played games since March 7th. His KHL team got knocked out of the playoffs when he got injured.

Kovalenko is unfazed by a Gull coming straight at him in the open ice #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/OsNLJ6zymB

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 18, 2024

“I thought he created a little bit more last night,” said head coach Aaron Schneekloth. “Obviously a little bit tighter checking game tonight a little more physical on their part. They didn’t seem to have a lot of open space that they had, but I liked his tenacity. You know he had a real good, real good shot and follow up on his rebound that he almost connected on he has got a good stick. It was good for him to experience back-to-back and fight through one of these games.”

— The forechecking game for the Eagles was non-existent for the first part of the game. Last night, the Eagles were laying the forecheck on the Gulls nonstop. Tonight it did not start until later in the second. That is when the game turned around for Colorado and they could push the play more into the offensive zone. The forecheck would directly lead to a goal by defenseman Corey Schuenenman after Ryan Sandelin pushed the play hard into the boards. It made an enormous difference in the game for Colorado.

Ryan Sandelin forces a turnover at the wall for Spencer Smallman to pick up and toss to the blue-line for Corey Schueneman. Eagles go ahead 2-1 #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/pJ0s0BvOo1

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 18, 2024

— Keaton Middleton has been a genuine leader on and off the ice this season. Several players, Sam Malinski included, have praised his leadership abilities. Tonight, Middleton scored his first career short-handed goal in the AHL and did not even know it. You can always see him directing traffic for the forwards and teaching the younger defenseman what to do. He wears the ”A” with pride on his chest.

“I don’t do anything different. I just kind of always been like that. I’m just who I am. I’m a vocal guy, and just how it’s always gonna be,” Middleton said.

This was Keaton Middleton's first career short handed goal #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/iTElDBhwP4

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 18, 2024

Conclusion

The Colorado Eagles go into this weekend two points over the Abbotsford Canucks and with home ice. If Abbotsford loses just one game, and same with Bakersfield, Colorado clinches home ice for the first round. Abbotsford, against whom the Eagles have a 4-2-2 record this season, seems to be the likely first round opponent. The last two games against them got pretty rough, so it could be a long two or three games. The Eagles will look to take care of their side of things again on Saturday night against the Ontario Reign in Loveland.

Interviews

The post Eagles one step closer to home ice in playoffs appeared first on The Rink.

Nikolai Kovalenko is wearing number 51 for sure and will be playing LW on the first line centered by Olofsson and Foudy on the RW. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/jeoxc9vkJZ

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 17, 2024

Takeaways

— Kovalenko is vicious around the net. Given the opportunity, he loves to go right for a screen around the net. The defense would, of course, beat him up, but Kovalenko was good at taking the punishment. His speed through the zone is getting there, since he looks like he is still adjusting to the altitude. Kovalenko’s hands are fast and deceptive. The Russian-American can slip a puck between his legs with ease. And last but not least, his vision is impeccable. He sees a play coming before it there.

Kovalenko with some hard work into the zone and gains his first assist in North America!!!! Fouldy finishes up with the goal and Olofsson with the primary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/j7kW8oabqp

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 17, 2024

A nifty move by Kovalenko to get around the man as he enters the zone and open up some space #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/6TVzd7h04u

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 17, 2024

“He was tenacious on the forecheck and he had a great stick,” said head coach Aaron Scneekloth. “I thought he worked in space really well and created a lot of offense. I kept his game pretty simple but took advantage of some opportunities when he saw them and made a lot of really nice plays offensively for us.”

— The Eagles snapped a zero for 26 slump on the power play. Tonight, they took advantage of the one opportunity they were given by moving the puck well. They had a few shots and finally converted as Cal Burke slammed his second of the night in. Tonight they looked as if they went back to the basics and it worked.

Cal Burke hammers the shot and breaks the PP drought after the set up Cedric Paré #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/N3VJBU4vrv

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 17, 2024

— Arvid Holm was stellar in only his third start in the AHL since January 20th. Holm unfortunately lost the goalie battle with Trent Miner when Justus Annunen went down to injury, but took advantage tonight. The Swedish goaltender earned his first shutout of the season to help the Eagles crawl back to fourth place in the Pacific Division.

Conclusion

With the win, the Eagles slid back into the fourth spot in the division and back into a home ice position. As of right now, they have designated Loveland as the location for all three games of a best of three. If Colorado can beat San Diego again tomorrow, that will only help their case. Maybe the Colorado Avalanche could recall Kovalenko, but I think giving him one more game would be the best option. Colorado holds their own fate in their hands as they play the Gulls tomorrow night at 7pm.

Interviews

The post Kovalenko makes North American debut with Eagles appeared first on The Rink.

In their last ten games, the team sat at a 4–5–1 record with only two games remaining.

The presence on the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights was a night and day difference, and it all started in the first period. Throughout the season, the Avalanche has had ten comeback wins when trailing by two or more goals, so momentum has always been the key to Colorado victories.

The good

As opposed to the game against the Jets, Colorado looked cohesive as a team. Every line was putting in the work, and Ross Colton was the first to be rewarded by a margin of mere inches.

He lit the lamp by beating Vegas’ Adin Hill and sending the puck between the post and Hill’s pad at the seven-minute mark.

Makar Wood Colton #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/qMd75KDuG5

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 14, 2024

Three minutes later, Cale Makar brought the Avalanche up by two on a wrist shot from a feed from Nathan MacKinnon.

It is, in fact, Cale Makar. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/UlKFkgL4xp

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 14, 2024

The real test would be holding the lead, especially with playoffs around the corner against Winnipeg.

Alexandar Georgiev sat tall in the net for the first two periods, coming up big with several dangerous situations in front of him. As of late, he has been in a slump and was pulled from the Winnipeg game after allowing four goals.

A feel-good game would undoubtedly boost his confidence, and it would not have come at a better time.

By the time the second period started, the offensive identity showed. Mikko Rantanen redirected a shot from Josh Manson to put the team in a comfortable 3–0 lead.

The Moose is loose #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/vBBmz2TjFZ

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 14, 2024

Even after three unanswered goals from Vegas, the team did not shut down. The competitive and “never give up” mindset will be invaluable in the first round playoff series.

The bad

To start the game, there wasn’t much to complain about. The team put up 11 shots to six from the Golden Knights in the first and survived all 11 of the Golden Knights’ shot attempts.

A successful challenge from Jared Bednar sustained the 2–0 lead after a missed goalie interference call in the first frame.

no goal

back to 2-0 https://t.co/uDPLehmlGh

— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 14, 2024

The third period left much to be desired. Ivan Barbashev put one on the board at the three-minute mark, but a two-goal margin should have been sufficient to survive the remaining 17 minutes.

wrap-around Barbie pic.twitter.com/t5Bziay1Yj

— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 14, 2024

A power play goal from Vegas sliced the margin to two, and ten minutes later, William Karlsson landed a goal on the top left side of the net to tie the game at three.

A BEAUTY IN HIS 500TH VGK GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/x4WlE9GVyB

— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 14, 2024

30TH OF THE YEAR FOR WILLIAM KARLSSON!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/oiD9IYRzqX

— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 14, 2024

In the third period, Colorado put up a measly two shots to their opponent’s 11, an alarming switch from the first 40 minutes of play.

A strong start gave Colorado a good look, but if they have a breakdown in the last frame, opponents will exploit it in the post-season run and all but guarantee a first-round exit.

The game came down to an aggressive overtime performance, but a high-sticking penalty from Josh Manson left the team at a severe disadvantage in another crucial game.

The Golden Knights wasted no time netting a goal on the man-advantage, bringing the game to a brutal end.

FROM 3-0 DOWN TO A 4-3 WIN!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/bgQwqyDprU

— x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 14, 2024

In the end, Colorado fumbled when it mattered most. The team recorded four total shots in the last frame and overtime, a completely unacceptable performance this late into the season.

What’s next?

The Avalanche are still in the running for the home ice advantage, but they now leave their fate in the hands of the Jets.

A win on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers will put them in a good spot, but it would also require Winnipeg to lose their games against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and against the Canucks on Thursday.

The last meeting between the Oilers and Avalanche yielded a 6–2 loss and gave Edmonton the go-ahead to playoffs.

Game recap

The post Avalanche fumble three-goal lead over Vegas Golden Knights appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Defense was tighter and played more to their position tonight. Despite the loss of Sam Malinski to an upper-body injury last night, the defense overall were giving up fewer chances. They were forcing the Roadrunners out past the faceoff dots and taking away quality shots. This made the job for Ivan Prosvetov a lot easier than he could shut down the posts. And because of this, Prosvetov looked calmer in the net compared to last night, where he looked panicked.

Prosvetov with a miraculous save to keep the Roadrunners scoreless! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/NRd1ObQC1Q

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 14, 2024

— The Eagles have now scored one or fewer goals in 20 of 68 of their games this season. It is not just the power play that is a problem; it is even strength, too. Colorado cannot consistently put the puck into the net. You can say that injuries have been an enormous factor to this. Jean-Luc Foudy missed over half of the season with multiple injuries. Right as he was getting hot, Oskar Olausson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that sidelined him. Joel Kiviranta had a hot stick and then Artturi Lehkonen got hurt and the Eagles have not seen him since. Their big guns can’t get into a rhythm, unfortunately.

Corey Schueneman with the one timer to tie it back up! Cal Burke with the setup after running around the back of the net. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/TuSEy6BGZO

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 14, 2024

— The team’s failure to follow up with shots to the net could also be attributed to the lack of offense. In both last night’s game and tonight, Matthew Villalta was horrible at holding onto the puck. He was constantly giving secondary chances that the Eagles were not taking advantage of. Colorado was not following their own shots to the net and getting the secondary chances.

We'll give it a ten from Ben #LetsGoTucson https://t.co/mNNWSxAnws pic.twitter.com/69RauygaAQ

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) April 14, 2024

Conclusion

The Eagles now are on a gradual slide in the wrong direction. They have lost four of their last six games, all have been key games to keeping the playoff position. With only four games remaining in the schedule, Colorado MUST win all of them in order to get home ice back. That success may depend on how quickly Malinski, Matthew Stienburg, Jason Polin and Tanner Kero all can come back to the lineup. The Eagles will come home to Loveland on Tuesday to play the San Diego Gulls and hopefully pull a win out.

The post Eagles fall short once again; losing home ice appeared first on The Rink.

First period

Generating offense proved to be a tremendous struggle for the Avalanche against the Jets in their matinee game. It certainly doesn’t help when the first team to score five minutes into the game isn’t yours.

Sean Monahan was the first to light the lamp at Ball Arena with a slap shot. Nikolaj Ehlers assisted him (34) and Neal Pionk (26).

First goal of the afternoon! pic.twitter.com/92Q61SyaPI

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

Almost thirteen minutes into the period, Nathan MacKinnon pulled a two-minute penalty for hooking. At this time, the Avalanche still hadn’t recorded any sort of shot on goal.

Seconds later, Gabriel Vilardi put one past the right side of Avalanche goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev. Kyle Connor assisted Vilardi (26) and Josh Morrissey (56).

Vilardi to Scheifele to Morrissey to Connor to Vilardi pic.twitter.com/7TtsLXlzvu

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

Sean Walker pulled a slashing penalty, allowing the Jets to score another goal. Only four seconds into the penalty, Morrissey snuck the puck in from the blue line. Monahan received credit for the assist.

Two minutes of power play time.

We'll only need three seconds, keep the change pic.twitter.com/aPtYf0EoYB

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

To round out the first period, Adam Lowry acquired his 11th of the season with passes from David Gustafsson (3) and Dylan DeMelo (28). Justus Annunen replaced Georgiev in net.

Two Goals. Ten Seconds.

Four Goals. Fifteen minutes.

pic.twitter.com/ZgTKljXl4O

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

The Avalanche left the first period down 4–0 with only five shots on goal, compared to Winnipeg’s 16.

Second period

Looking to add some sort of momentum to the Avalanche’s play, Ross Colton pulled a roughing penalty. 

The Jets headed to the power play once more and Tyler Toffoli makes it 5–0 with an assist from Connor.

Tyler Scoreffoli pic.twitter.com/FrOdInRMCN

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

During this time, Avalanche defenseman, Sam Girard, left the game with an upper-body injury. Following the game, Girard entered concussion protocol.

Four minutes later, Monahan lit the lamp for the second time. Morrissey notched his 57th assist of the season.

Lowry scored the last goal of the game with 3:27 left in the second period.

Sean Monahan has 13 goals as a Jet, and 26 goals total this season pic.twitter.com/3xCjs9oxeQ

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024

Third period

The Avalanche still aren’t able to generate any sort of goal-scoring offense. However, in the third period, neither were the Jets.

But that mattered little, given the score was 7–0.

The Colorado Avalanche finished the game by outshooting the Jets 30–26, most of their shots generated in the third.

Takeaways

The Colorado Avalanche will more than likely face off against the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After today’s match, the Jets will be granted home-ice advantage. 

Tomorrow, the Avalanche will visit the Vegas Golden Knights at 1:30 p.m. To end the regular season, Colorado will play the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena on Thursday night at 7:30.

The post Jets shutout Avalanche 7–0 in playoff preview appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Sam Malinski did not play beyond the first period in the game. This will be a significant loss on the blue line for the Eagles and possibly for the Colorado Avalanche as well. About halfway through the first frame, Malinski laid a massive hit in the corner. He seemed fine after that, but never returned to the game after the intermission. Malinski provides a spark on the backend and the power play despite his rookie status. He has five goals and 20 assists in 45 games played with the Eagles this season.

Sam Malinski just sent him to another world….#Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/KbzeaphAgn

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 13, 2024

— The power play continues to suffer. As the Eagles could not convert the three opportunities they had tonight, it would have made the difference in the game. The power play has been a topic of conversation. Colorado has not converted in their last 25 chances in the eight games. Even strength scoring has been falling short with a 5–3–1–1 record in their last ten games.

Cal Burke drives the puck into the zone and throws it over to Corey Schueneman and a tap pass for Ryan Sandelin to push into the back of the net. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/76gjFkVPL0

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 13, 2024

The physical game tonight highlighted the absence of Matthew Stienburg and Jason Polin. Both the forwards, who did not play because of upper-body injuries, play a very physical brand of hockey. Polin can spark the offense into the zone and Stienburg is a third line grinder. Both know how to lay a shoulder into a man and let someone know they are there to take the puck away.

Jason Polin is a MENACE #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/oDqv7U0jaw

— x – Barstool Denver (@BarstoolDenver) September 16, 2023

Matt Stienburg lays a man over the boards and into the benches. He immediately gets jumped by 2 Canucks as a result. Ends in a Eagles PP. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/SSQwn5vuww

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 31, 2024

Conclusion

With the loss, Colorado now falls to fifth in the standings and will start the playoffs on the road. In the Pacific Division, the home team’s arena hosts the entire first round. There is no travel. So if the Eagles lose that advantage, this will be huge. Injuries are piling up at the worst possible time. Starting goalie Trent Miner has no expected return date and Dalton Smith (another grinder) is expecting a baby. Tanner Kero, a top-six forward, is out with an upper-body injury and has no expected return date either. The Eagles will battle the Roadrunners again tomorrow night at 8pm.

The post Malinski potentially hurt in Eagles loss appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— MacKinnon went into tonight with 133 points so far this season, six points shy of Peter Stastny’s record of 139. The Canadian had four games to tie or break the record… tonight MacKinnon made sure that he will probably pass it. He racked up four points with a hat trick and an assist. It was his seventh career hat trick, trailing only Stastny (16), Joe Sakic (15), and Michel Goulet (13). The second goal of the night was MacKinnon’s 50th goal, which is the first time that he reached the mark in his career.

MacKinnon reads the play perfectly and is now one goal away from his first 50 goal season in his career #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/5C7iOzbCyc

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 10, 2024

MACKINNON NOW HAS SCORED 50 GOALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/kC0Ic9xQAi

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 10, 2024

MACKINNON HATTIE ALERT!!!!!!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/fC7d11LSiz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 10, 2024

— Cale Makar continues to be more than just a great defenseman. Makar has exceeded his points from the 2021-22 year (86). The young defenseman now has 87 points in 74 games played for the Avalanche this season. With the goal scored in the second period, Makar is the first blue liner for the Avalanche to have two 20-goal seasons.

Cale Makar with a twisted wrister to get the lead back for the Avs and now has 87 pts…..as a defenseman! #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/4A0gzBFRRx

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 10, 2024

— Alexandar Georgiev continues to puzzle me with some of his decisions. The first goal by the Wild, Georgiev, was pushing the puck into traffic rather than covering it for a stoppage. I have never played goalie (it is the only position I haven’t), but he had it right on his stick and could have fallen on it. These types of decisions are the ones that worry me this late in the season.

Another day another Kirill goal #mnwild pic.twitter.com/aA5Tsktteb

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 10, 2024

Conclusion

I understand the Wild are not much of a playoff team, but the performance from Colorado tonight is what we expect. Players had their heads up for the passes and they were rushing out of the zone for the breakout. This made it a lot easier for Colorado to exit their own zone and get through the neutral zone. If they can perform like this against Winnipeg on Saturday, they should have no issues. The Avalanche could take a four point lead over the Jets and trail the Stars by only three points.

The post Both MacKinnon and Makar have milestone nights against Wild appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The special teams unit needs to hold the game when the game is tight. Sean Walker had a double minor for high-sticking and the Stars took advantage of both of the minor penalties. Overall, The Stars went three for three on the power play, scoring all of them in the second period. The Avalanche went only one for two with a sweet pass from Nathan MacKinnon to Artturi Lehkonen. The Finish winger has quietly gotten up to a five-game point streak with the goal.

Seguin makes the Avs pay again for the high stick #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/nJT1Ibi2iL

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 8, 2024

Lehkonen nails a one-timer through the five hole to even up the game with the assists coming from Makar and MacKinnon #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/vsG9wGEoOH

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 8, 2024

— The offense tonight suffered from the absence of Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen, who is now in concussion protocol after the Edmonton loss, has played in every game to this point. He drives the offense on the right wing and sets up the power play. Rantanen typically handled much of the faceoffs on the left side, so another person had to compensate for his absence.

— Defensive positioning killed the entire team tonight. In almost every goal, the Avalanche defense was out of position. Samuel Girard went too high into the zone on Wyatt Johnston’s goal, drawing him out of position. Then he failed to get his stick on the ice quickly enough to clear the puck. Cale Makar’s lack of readiness caught him flat-footed several times, forcing him to slide in order to block the pass. Something that is not ideal for a defenseman.

This is why you dont do the wave at hockey games #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/5Wn1N0RcFw

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 8, 2024

— Alexandar Georgiev has been on a downward slide lately. In the last five games, he has managed only one (against New York) when it was above a .900 save percentage. Now this is not all Georgiev’s fault, but he is the last line of defense.

Conclusion

The Avalanche are having no issue scoring goals; it is getting scored on that is their problem. With only four games remaining until the playoffs start, this is a big problem to have. Colorado needs to tighten up the defense and make sure pucks are not getting to Georgiev. The last four games will not be easy ones either, as three out of four of the teams are in the playoffs. The Avalanche will rest up a little when they play the Minnesota Wild again on Tuesday night in Denver.

The post Stars outpace Avalanche in Central Division battle appeared first on The Rink.

While facing the Henderson Silver Knights (VGK), the team faced a loss on April 6, yet were tenacious against Henderson in the following game.

The Eagles sat fourth in the Pacific Division, a mere two points behind the Tucson Roadrunners (ARI).

The good

Colorado suffered a staggering 4–1 loss against Henderson and nearly had a copycat game.

Fortunately for them, Callahan Burke put the team on the board with a 2–1 lead, and the game appeared to be headed in the Eagles favor.

Burke puts us up early pic.twitter.com/KQX1kufMXU

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 7, 2024

Quick jumps to the net are vital in the playoffs. Being dialed in from the first moment to the last is what will make or break in a game.

The Eagles had a three-goal comeback in the third period, finalizing the score 4–2 at the very last moment. Spencer Smallman opened the period with a goal, helped by Sam Malinski and Jean-Luc Foudy at the four-minute mark.

Smallman ties things up with his 2nd goal in as many games! pic.twitter.com/y1HFpyD5FS

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 7, 2024

Nearly four minutes later, Malinski and Matthew Stienburg fed Fredrik Olofsson to overcome the 2–2 tie.

Stienburg is credited with the assist.

The Eagles need to hold on to the 3-2 lead for 8:59 to take home two points. #EaglesCountry #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/IL5aKm3uOQ

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 7, 2024

Finally, Riley Tufte scored his 20th goal of the season on an empty net, finalizing the victory.

Tufts hits the empty net for his 20th of the season! pic.twitter.com/JAbw342c6Y

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 7, 2024

The team played with a sense of urgency throughout the third period. Rather than accepting defeat as they did on Saturday, the team came together and pulled out three unanswered goals.

The team put 31 shots on the net, with the majority being in the second period. This shows the ability to bring the puck deep, only to be stopped by an impressive performance from Henderson’s Jesper Vikman.

With the two collected points against Henderson, they have a solid chance of rising in the standings, which will directly affect their postseason situation.

Aside from their three-goal run, it was a full team effort. Eight players had direct credit for the netted goals. The depth and offensive drive from the roster is an invaluable asset as they finish the rest of the season.

The team also successfully killed seven penalties.

The next two games are against the Tucson Roadrunners, who sit directly above them in the standings. Bringing home four points will not only help them rise in the standings, but take a lead over their opponent.

The bad

The game was incredibly physical, which is not always a bad thing.

Throughout the season, Colorado has struggled with penalties. Many times, spending a significant amount of time in the box has had a direct impact on the game.

The Eagles had seven penalties against the Silver Knights, leaving the fate of game changing goals up to their penalty kill units. Three of the penalties were for roughing. Luckily, the status of their special teams is highly favorable, helping them find victory.

In the second period, Colorado allowed two goals on eight shots from the Silver Knights. One of the opposing goals hit the crossbar and exited before he was aware it went in. The second goal was a cross-slot pass, and the defense could not knock the puck away.

This is the goal that was under review for obvious reasons… https://t.co/klAi22pv4y

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 7, 2024

Despite being awarded three power plays, the Eagles could not convert on any of them. Being able to convert on the man advantage is crucial to winning games.

Takeaways

Colorado is in a comfortable spot. Their tenacity and penalty kill prevailed to take the victory away from the Silver Knights.

Bringing pucks to the net and using the entire roster to light the lamp is a difference maker, especially in games they need to win.

The team will continue their road trip to Tucson before returning for their last home stand of the season. They will host the San Diego Gulls (ANA) and the Ontario Reign (LAK) to close out their regular season.

All six of the upcoming games will be the determining factor in the final standings.

The post Eagles overcome two-goal deficit against Silver Knights appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The Eagles played outstanding as a team for the first ten minutes of the game. Then things fell apart. Jean-Luc Foudy sent the puck over to Sam Malinski, who then rifled it on the net, leaving a rebound. Spencer Smallman picked the loose puck up and the Eagles were ahead 1–0. At the ten-minute mark, Colorado led in shots on goal 11–4 and continued to apply pressure. Then the Silver Knight’s first goal came as a complete fluke, and it all fell apart from there.

Holland wins the draw while Foudy and Malinski work the puck towards the net. Spencer Smallman finishes the job. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/WzCNWjomya

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 6, 2024

This has to be one of the craziest goals I have ever seen #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Z4eHyyTunu

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 6, 2024

— The blue liners had issues holding the line this afternoon, and it showed. Just three minutes after the fluke goal, a missed pass at the point led to a breakaway by Byron Froese and an easy backhand shot over a diving Ivan Prasvetov. There were many chances for the Silver Knights throughout the game like this, but this one put them ahead. The Eagles never scored after that.

backhand Byron breakaway pic.twitter.com/gJmYyBbvw1

— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) April 6, 2024

— Colorado had four chances on the power play and could not convert on any of the chances. Not that they didn’t have any opportunities. The puck just never saw the back of the net. In the first power play, Colorado did not get a shot on net until there were 15 seconds left in their chance. The second time around, their puck movement improved dramatically, but they only had two shots on goal.

Conclusion

The Colorado Eagles did not look like themselves after the first goal by the Silver Knights today. Something that was out of the ordinary hit a young team and did not know how to handle it. Colorado needs to get their even strength scoring back as three of their last four losses. They have only scored one goal each. Foudy coming back to the team should help, but the Colorado Avalanche having suffered some injuries on Friday, he could see a recall soon. The Eagles will be right back at it tomorrow afternoon as they wrap up the season series against the Silver Knights at 2 p.m.

The post Silver Knights spoil Eagles’ playoff positioning appeared first on The Rink.

Valeri Nichushkin and Yakov Trenin have been absent because of injury, but both rejoined the lineup in tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. While both players undoubtedly make a monumental impact on the team’s performance, the game against Edmonton was the second game in a back-to-back run

The good

The beginning of the game was off to a hot start. Corey Perry from Edmonton scored an early goal with a fortunate bounce, but Jonathan Drouin evened the score at the 12-minute mark with an assist from Nathan MacKinnon.

Drouin with the equalizing goal assisted by none other than Nathan MacKinnon.

Tied at 1 with the Oilers outshooting the #Avs 13-4.

6:13 to go in the first frame. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/M1T15MnYyL

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 6, 2024

The quick bounce back into the game was promising, especially against a team as successful as the Oilers.

Even better, Ross Colton lit the lamp only four minutes later, giving the Avalanche the advantage. The game looked promising, and with all players back on the ice, it had the potential to be a good game.

Ross Colton puts the Avs ahead by one.

2-1 #Avs. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/OngezBjC9Q

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 6, 2024

Despite being outshot 16–6 in the first period, the team held strong and scored on the few chances they had.

The Avalanche were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Against a competitive team, the ability to shut down any advantage is key.

The bad

The game quickly fell apart after Mikko Rantanen took a hard hit in the second frame and headed down the tunnel. Because of an upper body injury, Rantanen would not return to the game, and his absence was noticeable.

With a quick line shuffle, everything seemed okay. They entered the second period tied up with two goals, but they would quickly find themselves in a hole they could not dig themselves out of.

Despite Colorado’s reputation for unlikely comebacks, Edmonton’s relentless efforts and excellent defensive skills successfully prevented the top scorers from reaching the net.

They quickly took the lead 3–2 and added an insurance goal with a buzzer beater.

This is the goal that was under review.

EDM is heavily outshooting the #Avs 24-9. #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/txKeEX1SkT

— Savvy Rafkin (@savvyrafkin) April 6, 2024

Early in the season, this performance can be acceptable. But with five games left in the season and the Central Division playoff seating on the line, allowing four goals in two periods and being outshot 47–23 will have huge consequences in the postseason.

The team only won 33.9 percent of faceoffs and had 12 giveaways, both of which make winning the games unfavorable.

Takeaways

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is not entirely to blame for this loss, but his performance in the last few games he has played has been concerning.

Overall, he has a successful record. He sits 37–15–4 on the season, but in the last few games he has looked panicked and disorganized.

He allowed four goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 4. Luckily, Justus Annunen has stepped up to the plate and provides reliable relief to Georgiev. Annunen’s relaxed presence in the net is exactly what the team needs from a secondary netminder.

If Rantanen has a long-term absence, the modifications to the lineup could take some time to find chemistry. The top line for the Avalanche has been not only consistent but also very successful.

Rantanen is one of the top point scorers for Colorado, and his chemistry with MacKinnon is a huge contributor to the team’s overall success.

The next five games are crucial to the team’s postseason run. They are only three points away from the Dallas Stars. With their game on April 9 against Dallas, a win would be a monumental step forward.

Moving forward into the ultimate games of the regular season, the team’s performance will be a good indicator of what to expect, especially if Rantanen does not have a timeline to return.

The post Avalanche push toward final stretch after Edmonton loss appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— Jonathan Drouin has become one player that the Avalanche can depend on. With his two goals tonight, both assisted by his pal Nathan MacKinnon, were key in the game. In both goals, Drouin went down low and got dirty in the crease. With the second goal, Drouin positioned himself for a perfect tip in from a MacKinnon slap shot. Drouin can do the dirty dangles or the dirty work down low, he will be worth an extension next season.

Cale Makar slings one towards the net on the PP and Drouin waits for it to drop and bats the puck in for the goal number two for the Avs. MacKinnon w the secondary assist #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/KLekFCp86L

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 5, 2024

MacKinnon with a one-timer that Drouin tips in for his second goal of the night! Toews w the secondary assist Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/5u6GbrqHar

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 5, 2024

— Justus Annunen played well, winning his seventh of the season. The first goal by the Wild that came in the first period and from behind the net caught him off guard. Beyond that, his mobility and vision were excellent. Annunen was seeing high danger situations that he had not seen in games like against Chicago, where he had two consecutive shutouts. This was the best I had seen him move post-to-post since before his injury with the Eagles earlier in the season that kept him out for six weeks. Annunen’s .957 save percentage kept the Avalanche in the game.

Nathan MacKinnon converts the beautiful give-and-go with Drouin, doubling the Colorado lead to 2!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/I7XU4KMmlI

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 5, 2024

— The line of Drouin, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen has become a thing in Colorado. The trio has been together for 44 games during the season. It was a line that I had talked about even before training camp started. They have scored 29 goals together in 574 scoring chances while on the ice. So on average they have created over 13 scoring chances per game by themselves. And of all the scoring chances, 110 of them were high danger chances. This line is dangerous.

Already, we are looking at a line of Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen. This one could be scary if Drouin can do his thing. #Avs #GoAvsGo @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/IVrIe6Kvr0

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) September 8, 2023

Conclusion

The Avalanche will need to keep themselves out of the penalty box as they head to Edmonton tomorrow night. The Oliers have the second best power play in the league with a 27 percent success rate. Colorado had four penalties in the second period alone tonight, surprisingly allowing one goal. The Avalanche will have to keep up the aggressive offense against a faltering Edmonton defense and keep them on their heels. The Central Division playoff race is all but set, with the Avalanche only three points out of first behind the Dallas Stars.

The post Drouin assures win for Avalanche appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The Eagles finally broke a 0 for 13 stretch on the power play. During two of the three games which this took place, Colorado could only score short handed goals against Abbotsford. They finally broke through with some even strength goals last night, but the overwhelming force of the Stars was too much.

Brad Hunt with a clapper to break the PP streak and take the lead! Ivan Ivan and Cedric Paré with the assists on the play. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Hg6KwUCJ6r

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 4, 2024

— Jason Polin has heated up at the right time. With two goals in the last two nights, Polin has started the scoring on both nights against the Stars. With all the injuries and call-ups, Polin, a Hobey Baker Finalist last season, is expected to step up. Tanner Kero is out with an injury and Jean-Luc Foudy is with the Colorado Avalanche, so there is a sizeable gap in offensive production. Not to mention, Oskar Olausson will be out for the year. Polin has been showing more confidence with every passing game, even more so after his first call up to the Avalanche in January.

Matt Stienburg drops it down to Nate Clurman who avoids the poke check to get the puck in front for Jason Polin and the finish. Polin with his 2nd goal in as many days. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/lZhjneEJBg

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 4, 2024

— Keaton Middleton has quietly been having a career year. Scoring the third goal of the night and what turned out to be the game winning goal, he is one shy of his career best. Middleton set the career high in his first year with the San Jose Barracuda in 2018-19. Since Middleton has joined the Avalanche organization, he has become a steadfast leader on the blue line for the Eagles. Players have said that he is one of the most vocal players on the ice and it shows in how he directs traffic.

Cal Burke runs down to the corner and sets Keaton Middleton up for a one-timer from the top of the faceoff circle. Schueneman with the secondary assist. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Nsz4BPH71L

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) April 4, 2024

Conclusion

The Eagles clearly needed a boost in the right direction tonight. They got it from every aspect on the ice, from special teams to goaltending. If it weren’t for Ivan Prosvetov, the Eagles wouldn’t have won this game. He saved 29 of 31 shots on goal and the Stars threw everything they could at him. Colorado will continue their road trip on Saturday against the Henderson Silver Knights in another must win for important points.

The post Polin heats up as Eagles snap losing streak appeared first on The Rink.

The Stars, despite being 23rd in the league, have the highest rank on the power play with a 22.7% success rate. The Eagles sit at 30th with 16.3%.

First period

Fortunately, the Colorado Eagles had their first power play only five minutes into the first frame. However, the 16.3% could not activate. Only seconds into the power play, the Stars got a breakaway chance. Nothing came of that chance.

Jason Polin, from the Eagles, scored tonight’s first goal of the game late in the first period. He put one on the far side of Stars rookie goaltender, Ben Kraws.

This was Polin’s third goal of the season and his first goal since January 30 against the Ontario Reign. Fredrik Olofsson assisted Polin (5) and Sam Malinski (16) on the play.

Pols puts us on the board first pic.twitter.com/ZTWrriiKZW

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 3, 2024

Almost two minutes later, the Stars responded. Fredrik Karlstrom notched his twentieth goal of the season against Arvid Holm. Karlstrom has accumulated 43 points on the season, placing him fifth among the Stars. Matej Blumel assisted him (29) and Michael Karow (13).

Number 20 on the year for Freddy pic.twitter.com/O60OcvQDFZ

— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) April 3, 2024

The first ended with shots in favor of the Eagles, 12–9.

Second period

Halfway through the second, the Stars pull ahead with a goal from Nicholas Caamano. This marks his tenth of the season. Karow, who notches his second assist of the night, and Kyle McDonald (11), assisted him.

"Never give up"

– Nick Caamano (probably) pic.twitter.com/XKq07aSxU8

— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) April 3, 2024

Peter Holland tied the game at two with help from Corey Schueneman and Olofsson.

Holland gets things tied up in the 2nd pic.twitter.com/G2TvwVhM1k

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 3, 2024

The Eagles got two separate power plays but could pull nothing off. They finished the second, 0–3 on the power play and 1–0 on the penalty kill.

Third period

Caamano lit the lamp early in the third. He scored his second with assists from Matthew Seminoff (11) and Luke Krys (1).

The Eagles headed to the box for another penalty. This season, the Eagles have successfully killed penalties with a rate of 85.2% and are ranked second in the league.

With a goal scored by Jack Ahcan, the game became tied for the third time at three. Brad Hunt (31) and D.J. Busdeker (5) both got credit for assists on Ahcan’s goal.

Jacko puts us right back in this one! pic.twitter.com/cV2jd5S8ZR

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 3, 2024

With 4:28 left, Aamodt headed to the box for a slashing penalty, and this is where the momentum shifted. Caamano scored his third goal of the night from Alex Petrovic (16) and Karow (15).

Hoping to tie the game for the fourth time, the team pulled Holm, and the Stars seized an opportunity on an empty net. Caamano took it and tallied his fourth goal.

Takeaways

With 27 shots on goal tonight, the Eagles look to play the Stars once more tomorrow at 6 p.m. Tonight’s game started a six-game road trip for the Eagles where they’re looking to pickup points before playoffs.

The post Eagles fall to Stars 5–3 in power play showdown appeared first on The Rink.

In their last matchup, the Avalanche rolled over the Blue Jackets 6–1. Tonight was a different story.

First period

The first period of the night was a slow one from both sides. Justus Annunen only saw 11 shots on goal while Blue Jackets’ goaltender, Daniil Tarasov, saw seven.

With three minutes left, Samuel Girard was called for a holding penalty. The Avalanche killed 26 of 27 of the last penalties in the season. Annunen saw two shots before the Blue Jackets drew a penalty.

For forty-three seconds, the two teams played 4–on–4. The Avalanche currently ranks sixth on the power play this season. However, that play didn’t show tonight.

The first ended scoreless.

Second period

Halfway through the second, Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko got the night’s first goal. This was his 20th goal of the season, and Erik Gudbranson and Johnny Gaudreau assisted him.

MARCHY KNOCKS IN HIS 20TH GOAL OF THE SEASON @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/l9s10qMNh5

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 2, 2024

Not long after, Alex Nylander scored his first of the night from Ivan Provorov and Dimitri Voronkov after an Avalanche turnover.

NYLANDER WANTED IN ON THE ACTION!! @fanaticsbook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Lz6aZfntHL

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 2, 2024

To round out the second period, Nylander notched his second goal from Gudbranson and Jake Bean. This goal sealed the deal. No chance for an Avalanche comeback.

Third period

Entering the last period of the night, the Avalanche continue to have a record of 10-16 when trailing after two periods. While the Blue Jackets are 15–1–7 when leading.

The Blue Jackets served two penalties in the third period, both opportunities for the Avalanche to score. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to generate enough chances.

Chris Wagner scored his first goal back in an Avalanche sweater from Sean Walker and Artturi Lehkonen early on.

However, nothing was to come of it as the Blue Jackets scored their fourth and final goal of the night. Cole Sillinger scored on an empty net with a minute and a half remaining. Alexandre Texier and Marchenko assisted him.

Takeaways

It was not a good night for the Avalanche offensively. It was a frustrating one for the team, who took 46 shots while Columbus only had 25.

With playoff season and the Presidents Trophy right around the corner, this was a game to collect points. The Avalanche trail the Dallas Stars in the Central Division by three points.

Colorado will continue on the road and will head to Minnesota, where they will play the Wild Thursday night at six.

The post Avalanche fail to play from behind against Blue Jackets appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— The shorthanded goal has become the name of the game for the Eagles. With a penalty kill that is 85.25 percent successful, the Eagles pushed the play into the other end against Abbotsford. Ondrej Pavel scored one last night and now Tanner Kero adds another to his list. Of Kero’s 13 goals this season, three have come on the penalty kill. Kero, unfortunately, did not play the final ten minutes of the game because of an unknown injury.

The Eagles strike back with another shorty (had one last night). Tanner Kero charges full force to push the puck in after getting the pass from Jack Ahcan #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/L5esGtFJT1

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 31, 2024

— Matt Stienburg became an agitator out on the ice tonight. He was taking every opportunity to play his style of hockey and let the Canucks know when he was on the ice. During the second period, Stienburg laid a man over the boards onto the bench and stood there waiting for the chaos to come to him. His job has become to not score goals, but to get under the skin of the opponents.

Matt Stienburg lays a man over the boards and into the benches. He immediately gets jumped by 2 Canucks as a result. Ends in a Eagles PP. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/SSQwn5vuww

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 31, 2024

Brad Hunt got in a fight #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/okJERrCZDd

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 31, 2024

— As the penalty kill has had success in scoring the last two games, the power play has not. Combined, the power play has gone 0 for 10. They have been moving the puck well while in the zone, but sometimes it is a matter of getting there that has been the problem. Once the Eagles are in a suitable position, they have been passing the puck excessively, trying to find the right moment to take a shot.

“It’s a lot of games, so you kind of have to learn how to play when you’re tired,” said Sam Malinski. “You’re not always gonna have fresh legs. So sometimes you just gotta play. Stay between the dots and make it a little bit easier on yourself.”

Conclusion

The Eagles played some high octane hockey despite having nine days off before the weekend set. It looked as if they started strongly, but the defense struggled a bit once it got in their zone. Easy shots were making their way through, but this could have been because Wyatt Aamodt was getting some much needed rest. We can probably expect him back in the lineup on Tuesday when Colorado hits the road to Texas. Offensively, Colorado needs to get shots closer to the net to avoid traffic in front of the net. If they can solve these factors, the Stars should not be an issue.

The post Physicality continues as Eagles drop second straight appeared first on The Rink.

The Colorado Eagles, the AHL affiliate of the Avalanche, had the opportunity to clinch a bid to postseason if they did things right. To do so, they needed to pick up a point against the Abbotsford Canucks or put their faith in the Tucson Roadrunners losing to the San Diego Gulls.

The Eagles had a record of 4–1–1–0 record for the 2023-24 season, so the chances of the team securing at least one point were in their favor.

After a very physical and hard-fought game, Colorado fell to the Canucks in overtime with a 2–1 score at the 1:30 mark.

Even though the home team didn’t secure a victory, they still clinched a spot in the race for the Calder Cup.

and with that overtime point- PLAYOFFS. CLINCHED. pic.twitter.com/rbhZkWkxuP

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 30, 2024

The good

Even after being on a nine day break, the Eagles came out of the gate fast, but the Canucks matched pace with them. After being stuck in a toe-to-toe battle during the first period, Ondrej Pavel turned the course of the game in a positive direction while Colorado was working on a penalty kill.

With Chris Wagner in the box for holding and the Canucks holding a 16.9% success rate with the man advantage, Pavel took the puck into the offensive zone and put Colorado ahead by one at the 12-minute mark.

Ondrej Pavel pushed hard on the forecheck and steals the puck right off of the stick and snaps in a shorty! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado https://t.co/XDSw0vje4L pic.twitter.com/RXcSVeHhTw

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 30, 2024

The relentless offensive drive was prevalent in this game and Colorado far outshot the Canucks. In the first period, both teams had six shots, but the Eagles took the lead with 8–2 in the second period and 11–5 in the third period.

Despite the outcome, not giving up in the face of a competitive goalie will be key in the quickly approaching postseason.

The bad

Like most losses the Eagles have this season, penalties are a huge contributor. They racked up six penalties for 12 minutes in the box.

Three penalties were for roughing, which Riley Tufte seems to take part in often.

However, the physicality of the game as a good warm-up for what is coming in the playoffs.

“I think every team in our division is really good,” he said. “So they’re always going to be tight games. You know, there being so many games left, they’re gonna try to get amped up for playoffs. I think everything’s gonna be like that. So, you’ve got to find a way to win those games. And I think overall we played really well.”

To go on a successful playoff run, the Eagles will need to work on not letting their opponents convert on the shots they take. Colorado had 11 more shots on the net, yet still fell 2–1.

While the first goal wasn’t a direct consequence of Ivan Prosvetov’s goaltending, the puck went right between his legs for the overtime winner.

and just like that…

JETT WOO CALLS GAME pic.twitter.com/ZwCCySFKvs

— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) March 30, 2024

Once the Eagles tighten up their playing and stay out of the box, the success will continue to follow.

What’s next?

Colorado will take on the Abbotsford Canucks for the last time tomorrow, March 30.

With a win, they will be able to jump to second place in the conference. The team is now competing for the home ice advantage, which, according to Head Coach Aaron Schneekloth, makes a night and day difference.

“It’s huge,” he said. “I mean, look at our home record. The support we get here, the energy [the fans] provide us every single night, the revenue would help with the organization. It’s a big deal playing on home ice in the playoffs. Our fans deserve to see extra games and the players deserve to step on the ice in front of the greatest fans in the world.”

The final 11 games are going to be vital for the standings. The Eagles have been in a constant battle between the Roadrunners and the Ontario Reign for the second place seed.

Interviews

Head Coach Aaron Schneekloth

Forward Riley Tufte

The post Colorado Eagles clinch bid to Calder Cup playoffs appeared first on The Rink.

Of course, it was conditional. The San Jose Sharks needed to beat the Minnesota Wild, and the St. Louis Blues needed to fall to the Calgary Flames.

Though neither game produced the outcome the Avalanche needed, Colorado looked to be locking into a playoff mindset.

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Avalanche fell to the Rangers in overtime. Knowing the game would be equal from start to finish, the home team would have to be firing on all cylinders.

Nathan MacKinnon’s streak of 35 home games with at least one point ended after they suffered a 3–2 outcome in a shootout, despite their efforts.

The good

The overwhelming impression is how well the Avalanche performed perfectly under pressure. Despite being worked every second of the game, the team did not waver in their determination and grit.

Even though they had trouble holding onto a lead and didn’t get on the board until Casey Mittelstadt netted a goal in the second period, the desire and drive to walk away with a victory was prevalent.

Another look at Mittsy’s goal #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xn2RfL5rNp

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 29, 2024

The constant pressure would be to the team’s benefit during the third period. The Rangers netted their second goal in the middle of the last frame, only for Devon Toews to equalize the game and send the game to overtime three minutes later.

All tied up!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/iOD4SMwNyi

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 29, 2024

The Avalanche’s specialty was putting everything possible on the net. With 40 shots on the net, Igor Shesterkin saved all but two. The most important aspect from now on is the ability to attack any opponent from an offensive angle.

The bad

There isn’t much that went wrong in this game. The Rangers sat at the top of the league and continue to hold the position.

The biggest issue was the difficulty the Avalanche had to get offensive momentum going. Shesterkin wasn’t willing to let anything through, so breaking the ice and getting something moving was no simple task.

To make matters more difficult, Valeri Nichushkin, who is out with a lower-body injury, was missing from the team. His impact on the ice is one of Colorado’s greatest assets, and his absence had an immediately noticeable impact.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a different level of play, and the Avalanche have to be ready to make something out of nothing.

Takeaways

Colorado will have another shot at clinching playoffs on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. The last meeting also resulted in a 5–1 loss to their division rival back on March 2nd.

Every single game matters, and not just from a points perspective. These last few regular season games are a less risky warmup for postseason. Considering the current trajectory, it seems like the Avalanche are getting into playoff shape and are prepared to make a run for the Stanley Cup.

The post MacKinnon point streak thwarted in shootout loss appeared first on The Rink.

First period

Nathan MacKinnon wasted no time extending his streak for the longest point streak. Forty-three seconds into the first period against the Canadiens, MacKinnon snapped one past Canadiens’ goaltender, Sam Montembeault. 

With this goal, MacKinnon ties his own record from earlier this season with 19 points. He also becomes the first player in National Hockey League history to have multiple 19-game point streaks in a single season. Also, with this current point streak, he moves to 34th in league history.

The streak continues!

35-straight home games with a point. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/0fqS1lmxC5

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 27, 2024

Only nine seconds later, the Canadiens responded. Nick Suzuki fired a wrist shot to the right side of Annunen. Suzuki has been a key player for the Canadiens this season who sits at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. This goal marks his 29th of the season, he leads the Canadiens in goals and points (67).

nouveau sommet dans sa carrière: 67 pts!!

career high 67th point!!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/YGcSBgj8my

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 27, 2024

Joel Armia gave the Canadiens a 2–1 lead with 5:07 remaining in the period. Former Avalanche forward, Alex Newhook, and Kaiden Guhle assisted Armia on the goal.

SPIN-O-ARMIA#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/FSjsUgZ0jt

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 27, 2024

Second period

The Avalanche and Canadiens finish the middle frame scoreless. Annunen saw only eight shots in twenty minutes of play. While, the rest of the team put up seven of their own.

Third period

Sean Walker, newbie to the Avalanche roster, served two penalties in the last period for six minutes. He was first given a two-minute penalty for hooking. Minutes later, he served a four-minute minor for high-sticking.

Fortunately, the Canadiens could only pull off one shot against Annunen. Unfortunately, the Avalanche weren’t able to do much with the remaining five minutes on the clock.

Colorado ends its win streak with a 2–1 loss against Montreal. Annunen now holds a record of 5–2–1 with the Avalanche this season.

Takeaways

The Colorado Avalanche will be at home Thursday night to face off against the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. The Rangers secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after their 6–5 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The post Annunen suffers first loss after new contract deal appeared first on The Rink.

The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have signed goaltender Justus Annunen to a two-year, one-way NHL contract. The Avalanche drafted the 24-year-old Finnish phenom in the third round of the 2018 draft and spent two seasons playing in Finland after.

History

Annunen first reported to the Colorado Eagles during the 2020–21 season that was cut short but a worldwide pandemic. He played two regular season games in which he had a .900 save percentage and allowed just under three goals in each game.

Juice for two more years!

We have signed goaltender Justus Annunen to a two-year, one-way contract extension.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bRUdUef7yc

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 26, 2024

During his time in Loveland with the Eagles, Annunen has worked closely with former Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj. He would help him drop his goals allowed an average of 3.01 to 2.55 in just one season. Annunen also achieved the recognition of being named AHL Goaltender of The Month for November in 2021. Over the four years that Annunen held the starting role, he would leave northern Colorado with a record of 60–29–19 and a .905 save percentage.

Annunen would get his first call up to the Avalanche for the Philadelphia Flyers game on December 6, 2021. He would allow five goals in 37 shots in the loss. He would only get one other opportunity for the rest of the season against the Ottawa Senators. Since then, Annunen has been spectacular, posting a NHL career of 2.85 goals allowed average and .908 save percentage. Just this season alone, Annunen would post two consecutive shutouts against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“Justus is a hard-working young goaltender who has earned this opportunity to compete at the NHL level,” said Chris MacFarland. “He has continued to improve and develop his game in the AHL and has played well in his appearances with the Avalanche. We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons.”

**Breaking News**
I’m told the @Avalanche are signing G Annunen to a 2 Yr 1 Way Contract Extension that will carry around 833K AAV. #GoAvsGo #HockeyX #HockeyTwitter @INEOSGrenadier pic.twitter.com/ZsD41bRgUl

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) March 26, 2024

Conclusion

It has now been confirmed,  and it sounds like the contract will be for $837,500 per year. This is a fantastic deal, considering this avoids his restricted free agency status this summer. The contract will carry past Alexandar Georgiev’s, which means there is a good chance that Colorado could have a starting goalie for less than one million dollars in 2025–26.

The #GoAvsGo signed 24 y/o G Justus Annunen to a 2 year $837.5K Cap Hit extension

Year 1 800K
Year 2 875K

Was a pending RFA after completing his current 775K 2-way deal.

Rep'd by @alroy42 @rsghockey https://t.co/f4Oq1ufF9c

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 26, 2024

The post BREAKING: Avalanche sign Annunen to one-way deal appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— At the beginning of the game, the defense seemed sloppy in all aspects of the Avalanche. Mostly down low in the defensive zone, Colorado’s defensemen were not moving their feet. They had trouble pushing the Penguins out past the faceoff dots as well, allowing more scoring chances in the high danger areas. But, it took Sean Walker to wake the Avalanche scoring up with just under four minutes left in the second period.

Sean Walker gets one back in a hurry for Colorado near the end of the 2nd period!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/uXO9l7IuZT

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 24, 2024

— It never gets old talking about Nathan MacKinnon. After his pal Crosby scored four points, MacKinnon decided it was his turn. MacKinnon took part in three out of the five goals scored today, ending the day with 122 points for the season. He now owns the single season Avalanche record for points, breaking Joe Sakic’s record of 120 points. The Halifax native also extended his point streak to 18 games and his home point streak to 34 games.

Jonathan Drouin cranks home Nathan MacKinnon's feed, extending MacKinnon's home point streak to 34 games!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/vR62Bi7zRo

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 24, 2024

Nathan MacKinnon ties it up at 4 with less than 5 minutes left in regulation!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/aiDJHhmomU

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 24, 2024

— Jonathan Drouin has been a dream come true. The Avalanche grabbed him on a team friendly deal over the summer of $825,000 because he wanted to play with MacKinnon again. The two have been inseparable ever since Drouin showed up before camp. Putting up a goal and two assists today, he now has 46 points on the season, numbers he hasn’t seen since 2018-19. The Halifax Hookup has a connection that links back to their junior hockey days and he has been a joy to watch in Denver.

JONATHAN DROUIN WINS IT FOR THE AVALANCHE IN OVERTIME!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xYdAArIN0N

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 24, 2024

Conclusion

The Avalanche showed some true grit today with their comeback win. It was only the third time that Colorado has ever come back from a four-goal deficit and won (March 3, 1999 & Oct. 16, 2007). They now have a nine-game winning streak and have not lost a game since the trade deadline. We could be witnessing something special. The players seem to think so as well. Only time will tell if this is right. The Avalanche will be back at it on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at Ball Arena.

The post Avalanche and the Halifax Hookup win in OT over Penguins appeared first on The Rink.

Takeaways

— MacKinnon has been on fire extending his point streak to 17 games. He is now only two games short of his career high that were set earlier this season (11–20 to 12–27). During the 17-game point streak, MacKinnon has scored an amazing 34 points. Adding to his point streak, MacKinnon has opened the season scoring in all 33 home games. He trails the great Wayne Gretzky, who had a 40 game streak set back in 1988-89. Mackinnon’s goal tonight was his 43rd goal of the season, marking a new career high.

Regularly scheduled post:

Nathan MacKinnon did it again. pic.twitter.com/uaewgU5mdY

— NHL (@NHL) March 23, 2024

Just amazing from the Dogg #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/2cgb3ieQyp

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 23, 2024

— Rantanen is on pace for career highs in goals, assists and points this season. He is one of two players that has played every game so far this season. With 12 games remaining in the season, Rantanen is only nine points short of his career high of 105 set last season. He has mostly been playing on the first line, but is one player that can shift down to the second line if need be.

Mikko Rantanen rifles home the sweet MacKinnon feed for a power play goal, 5-1 Avalanche!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/dBZmkm8P54

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 23, 2024

— The Avalanche did not give up a penalty until a minute and a half left in the game. Josh Manson laid a clean hit on Mathieu Olivier and they dropped the mitts. Colorado could sustain their offensive momentum throughout the entire game by staying out of the penalty box.

What a move from Chu Chu!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/sFb1rQqPMP

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 23, 2024

Conclusion

With the moves that the Avalanche have made before and during the deadline, they have become unstoppable. Before, they had to roll two, maybe three, lines through the game. Now, they are so deep, Colorado can roll all four lines AND all three pairs on defense. This makes the workload on Alexandar Georgiev a lot easier. Now Georgiev may play a little more. Next, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Denver on Sunday and will have an early noon puck drop.

The post Avalanche and MacKinnon extend streaks appeared first on The Rink.

Last night’s win came with the help of Fredrik Olofsson, who acquired two goals and one assist.

“You always want to be a part of a team and contribute, whether it’s offensively, defensively. You just want to feel you have a role on the team,” Olofsson said.

First period

The first period of game two against the Milwaukee Admirals wasn’t looking good either way. The Eagles played sloppy but were able to keep it in their zone long enough for shots from Corey Schueneman and Keaton Middleton.

Despite a no-goal first period, the Eagles still had some close calls that had Admirals’ goaltender, Yaroslav Askarov, looking over his shoulder. Shots came from Ivan Ivan and Jason Polin, who had a great pass from Schueneman that bounced off Askarov. Spencer Smallman also had a shot over Askarov’s left shoulder.

Second period

Some unforced errors early in the second from the Eagles allowed the Admirals to add to their already five shots on goal. Along with unforced errors came the handful of penalties from both teams.

Sam Malinski and Admirals’ Navrin Mutter entered the box only three minutes in. Just a minute later, Jean-Luc Foudy was called for hooking, allowing the Admirals a 4–on–3. Nothing came of this advantage.

The Eagles got on the board first with their first power play of the night. Foudy with a one-timer from Ivan and Riley Tufte gave the Eagles much-needed momentum.

Fouds on the power play for the lead! pic.twitter.com/4rIQUWfhR0

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 21, 2024

Following a delayed penalty from Peter Holland, the Admirals were able to get one in front, past Trent Miner. The Admirals’ goal was scored by Wade Allison, Juuso Parssinen, and Joakim Kemell assisted him.

The period ended with the Admirals leading in shots, 22–14.

ALLISON!#MILhockey pic.twitter.com/4afrkM3uHH

— x – Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) March 21, 2024

Third period

Another two penalties kicked off the last period. Tufte and Ozzy Wiesblatt served two minutes each for roughing. Three more penalties were served throughout the remaining 19 minutes of play, two by Milwaukee and one by Colorado.

Late in the third, Wagner slammed a pass from Cal Burke, putting the Eagles up 2–1. This is Wagner’s fourth goal this season.

WAGNER GOAALLLLLL pic.twitter.com/4ty6TOoKkt

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 21, 2024

Miner finished the night with 24 saves on 25 shots, giving him a record of 9–6–1.

Takeaways

The Colorado Eagles will continue their home stand in nine days on Friday, March 29th. They will host the Abbotsford Canucks.

“We’re gonna give the guys a couple days off, get some rest. Enjoy the break, have a nice reset, because we know what’s going to be a sprint to the finish line,” coach Aaron Schneekloth said.

Interviews

The post Wagner secures 2–1 win over Admirals late in the third appeared first on The Rink.

Adding even more pressure, this was a big game for Milwaukee. The Admirals only needed to notch one more victory to clinch a playoff spot, so they were hungry for a win.

Much to their disappointment, the Eagles came to the game looking for a win. In their last 10 games, they were sporting a record of 6–3–0–1.

First period

While beginning the period looking a little scrambled, it didn’t take long for Colorado to get settled and go to work.

Fredrik Olofsson kicked the offense off at the six-minute mark, notching his first goal in an Eagles uniform.

With Colorado holding on to the lead, Milwaukee started a full-scale offensive attack on Trent Miner. The Admirals put 11 pucks on the net in eight minutes without the Eagles putting up a single one.

The tides turned after Admiral Zach L’Heureux took a penalty for high-sticking. Just under a minute into the man-advantage, Riley Tufte would net his 19th goal of the season and the second in two games.

TUFTE POWER PLAY pic.twitter.com/kU5anxK3ZM

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 20, 2024

Second period

The Eagles hit the ice in the middle frame, still looking strong. Milwaukee was an unrelenting force in Colorado’s zone but could not find a way past Miner, who looked relaxed in the crease for the entire game.

Sam Malinski cashed in on a one timer through traffic and gave the Eagles a 3–0 lead.

MALINSKI KEEPS IT GOING pic.twitter.com/uTEQlGua1X

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 20, 2024

For the first two frames, it was clear this game was a full team effort. There was not a single player in a blue sweater who fell short of expectations.

With such an offensive showing, the Admirals were bound to score at some point, and they found an opportunity on a breakaway, narrowing the margin to two.

shoutout to Tommer fr#MILhockey pic.twitter.com/VWSMZ9sdda

— x – Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) March 20, 2024

Third period

The Eagles spent the first part of the third period in the defensive zone, trying to keep Milwaukee at bay. The roster hadn’t even recorded a shot on the net before Corey Schueneman took a seat in the box for tripping.

Tanner Kero later joined him at the eight-minute mark, providing a dangerous 5-on-3 situation for 1:45.

Not only did Colorado execute a beautiful penalty kill, but they also made something out of nothing once again.

Upon Kero’s release from the box, the Eagles wasted no time and headed into the offensive zone. Kero fed Olofsson, and they restored the three-goal lead.

CAN WE GET A LITTLE COMMOTION FOR OLOFSSON? pic.twitter.com/9XfPWOggeW

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) March 20, 2024

As true underdogs, the Eagles walked away with a 4–1 victory.

Takeaways

The Eagles came into this game as the underdog. The Admirals are first in the Central Division and second in the Western Conference, yet Colorado dominated and made something happen when there was very little given to them.

This mindset and willingness to work is invaluable in the postseason, especially when the team is being outshot by a significant margin. Throughout the game, the Eagles were outshot 13–9, 17–7, and 10–4.

Colorado and Milwaukee will face off for the last time tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.

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Peter Holland with the tap in down low. Spencer Smallman sets up Jean-Luc Foudy for the pass down low and Holland for the finish. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/dpmw53ykjY

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 17, 2024

Takeaways

— The Eagles had a lot more energy tonight. After the first five minutes of last night’s contest, the Eagles fell flat and could not keep up with the Wranglers. Tonight, they were skating hard from the get go, checking hard into the boards and driving to the net.

Why not a little fighting the night before St. Patty's Day? Matt Stienburg drops the mitts with Brett Sutter after a hit on the boards. Each got 5 for fighting. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/qKehtLTYQz

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 17, 2024

“There was a lot to play for tonight not only for us as a group where we are in the standings and what we want to accomplish but a huge night for the organization to play with a lot of pride for Cooper Logan,” said head coach Aaron Schneekloth. “We’re so grateful to help contribute to make somebody’s life better. Motivation for our team to see that situation alone.”

— Sam Malinski had a point for the first time in five games. After noticing that he has been less aggressive lately offensively on the puck, Malinski had a nice redirect to help with Jack Ahcan’s goal. My theory was that it was being paired with a slower skater.

“I think Sam’s game is effective, and he’s dynamic when he’s assertive with the puck, sometimes you overlook the fact that it’s his first year pro,” said Schneekloth. “He’s made some incredible strides for him to come up and play a bunch of games with the Avalanche and then come down to us. It’s a different pace, and it’s a little more chaotic and he still has things to work on as a young defenseman. But his offense and his play shines when he’s driving his feet up the ice and he’s being assertive with the puck.”

The redirects of all redirects! Sam Malinski throws to the front of the net for Jack Ahcan to redirect it right into the back of the net. Ivan Ivan with secondary assist. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/qlHttdFYmh

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 17, 2024

— Trent Miner came into the net and held firm to secure another win. Miner continues to shine in net, setting career highs in every category. He saved 27 of 28 shots tonight and looks more comfortable with every opportunity that he gets to play. Miner will be a restricted free agent this summer along with Arvid Holm, but Miner is proving he will beat Holm out for the job.

Riley Tufte totally redeems himself with the insurance goal to make it 3-1! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/WDfI1WYAc3

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 17, 2024

Conclusion

If the Eagles can play a game like they did tonight, they will have a lot of success. Their power play continues to struggle with no goals in 27 chances in ten games. During their four game skid, the Eagles could not score more than one goal every game. So they need to find other ways to score. The next two games will not be a simple task. The Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) will come to town on Tuesday, a team they have yet to bet this year.

Interviews

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Ondrej Pavel gets the puck down low and finishes with a NASTY wrap around for his 5th of the year. Game tied at 1. Schueneman and Hunt with the assists. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/frRUamwVt8

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 16, 2024

Takeaways

— Sam Malinski has been less aggressive offensively. In the previous four games, Malinski is minus two and has no points. He appears to not be driving into the offensive zone like he previously had earlier in the season. This could be because of a lack of confidence or his defensive pairing. The coach has often paired Malinski with Keaton Middleton in the last few games, a defenseman who is bigger and slower. Middleton cannot cover the middle on an odd man rush as easily as Brad Hunt, for example. So if Malinski were to pinch the play down and fail, Middleton can’t cover it.

Noticing that Sam Malinski has not been as aggressive lately. Not sure if the send down shot his confidence or the pairing has to do w it. He is paired w Keaton Middleton, a bigger slower skating dman #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 16, 2024

— The power play unit has struggled once again. The last time they scored a power play goal was on February 18th against the Bakersfield Condors. Since that time, Colorado has gone 0/23 in nine games and now has lost four games in a row.

— The Eagles as a team lacked energy. The entire team was too sluggish throughout the game. Chris Wagner mentioned he felt the game got off on the wrong foot, but they recovered a bit. But when rushing into the zone after a loose puck, there looked like there very little motivation.

— Spencer Smallman has transformed into a versatile player capable of being used in every situation from even strength to the power play. The team can use Spencer Smallman in every situation from even strength to the power play.

Spencer Smallman gets a slight breakaway and hooked in the process, resulting in a penalty shot. Smallman shoots wide and we sit at 1-0 Wranglers. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/HmIWDyMSKV

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 16, 2024

“He’s been a big impact player for us,” beach coach Aaron Schneekloth said. “He’s so versatile. We can put them up on the first line, the fourth line, depending on who’s available for us, and he drives the puck. It’s got a great stick. He’s got great instincts out there. Obviously tonight showed his speed on that penalty shot and he’s an experienced guy that knows what it takes to win at this level.”

Now in his second year with the organization, Smallman feels the coach’s approach everything the right way.

“They give us great information,” Smallman said. “Great pre scouts on the other team. They’re great at reviewing our own video on what we got to get better at. So just taking in all the good stuff that they tell us. And as well as reading off your line mates.”

Conclusion

The Eagles will have to push themselves for the regulation win on Saturday night against the Wranglers. Colorado stands only four points ahead of them in the standings in third place, and one point behind Tucson. With 15 games left in the season, they have to secure 17 points to make the playoffs for sure. But if they play a game like they did tonight, it will be a tough road ahead. Their next game will be at Blue Arena on Saturday against Calgary.

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After a shining 6–2 win over the Calgary Flames, the team was undoubtedly exhausted, and the absence of four impactful forwards immediately became noticeable against the Vancouver Canucks.

This game was the key to claiming the first-place seat in the Central Division, but the performance from the Avalanche was not living up to the standard set against the Flames.

Of course, this game was bound to be a hard-fought battle. For most of the season, Vancouver has been in the top three teams in the league. They are ten points ahead of the second-place team in the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers.

The good

Josh Manson dropped the gloves against Nikita Zodorov in the second period. While he picked up a five-minute penalty for fighting, it was the first burst of energy from Colorado in the game.

Mikko Rantanen finally put the Avalanche on the board with less than three seconds to go in the second period, and the goal held the potential to start an unstoppable force in the final frame.

Moose moves.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/TjNOIOTXQn

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 14, 2024

Luckily for Colorado, the third period resembled the team seen in the previous four games. Nathan MacKinnon brought the game within one after taking advantage of a 5-on-3 power play.

A Mack-cannon kind of goal.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/WaXCKTHQ1Y

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 14, 2024

The tenacity of Rantanen and MacKinnon paved the way for Ross Colton to net his fourteenth goal of the season to tie the game.

Another look at Rosco's goal!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/d8cOHVYUaY

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 14, 2024

In the third period alone, the Avalanche recorded 16 shots on goal, far outshining the Canucks’ three.

A late power play gave Colorado the man advantage in overtime. MacKinnon got the job done at the 30 second mark, assisted by Valeri Nichushkin’s visor.

Chu Chu concludes OT with a deflection off the…visor?!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/K9foEbrd6A

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 14, 2024

The Avalanche are notorious for impossible comebacks, the most notable being against the Dallas Stars with a six-goal comeback on Nov. 18, 2023.

The bad

The Canucks wasted no time lighting the lamp and took an early lead, only 24 seconds into the first frame.

MILESTONE MILLER
NEW CAREER HIGH – 33RD OF THE SEASON! pic.twitter.com/gTsAROCgSW

— X – Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 14, 2024

With the tone set, it was hard to slow their momentum. Vancouver scored another goal at the two-minute mark. Both goals were unfortunate tip-ins, but the Avalanche quickly spiraled into a deficit difficult to get out of.