3 takeaways from Avalanche’s 1-0 win over Blackhawks – Hockey Writer – Colorado Avalanche
There is no better team in the NHL this season than the Colorado Avalanche. They became just the fourth team in NHL history to lose one or fewer games in their first 20 games. They rank first in both goals scored and goals conceded per game. In every aspect, they dominate.
After a stunning win over the Nashville Predators, the Avalanche look to continue their winning streak with a road win over their division rival. Although the game lacked consistent offensive firepower, the Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 to once again seal the victory.
Best goaltender in the league
It’s been talked about before, but the contrast to last season’s goaltending situation cannot be overstated. Last season, the Avalanche couldn’t stop anything as Alexander Georgiev struggled every night. Eventually, management made two trades and things returned to normal on their own.
Both goalkeepers have been outstanding this season. Scott Wedgewood is playing the best hockey of his career, with numbers near the top of the league in almost every category. Mackenzie Blackwood was gradually returning to form after returning from injury, and the Avalanche suddenly suffered two consecutive shutouts.
The Avalanche appear to have a pair of No. 1 goaltenders right now, which is the best question. Even if they struggle offensively, they know they are protected, which allows the team to play with an extremely high confidence level.
Cale Makar is your runaway Norris Trophy winner
Cale Makar was the only scorer of the night, scoring his ninth goal of the season, giving Tristen Nielsen his first NHL point. What makes the Avalanche such a great team is that they can rely on superstars like Makar to contribute almost every night.
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Therefore, Makar is undoubtedly the front-runner for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defensive player. The offensive numbers are a given, considering he leads the league among defensive players in all three categories. That number gets even better when you consider that all nine of his goals and 22 of his 29 points were of equal strength.
He averaged more than 25 minutes and 30 seconds per game, ranking fourth in the NHL. He finished at +22, second only to teammate Nathan MacKinnon (+23). Makar can handle all situations and he excels in them all. We really don’t appreciate him enough for the generation of players he has been so far.
Avalanches have no weaknesses
The avalanche was almost unstoppable. They have now won nine games in a row and have taken one point from their last 13 games. They are seven points ahead of the Dallas Stars, who have a record of 13-5-4. They also haven’t lost in regular season games at home so far this season.
One area you can point to as being more middling than anything else is the power play. The Avalanche have a +38 goal differential, while the second-place Carolina Hurricanes have a +13 goal differential. The Avalanche not only performed well, but were absolutely dominant.
Injuries have begun to trickle in with Valeri Nichushkin and Gavin Brindley recently exiting the lineup. Still, Joel Kiviranta is skating again and standout defensive forward Logan O’Connor should be back in the lineup in December. With all their might, can anyone stop the avalanche?
Where will the winning streak end?
The next six games look to be a breeze for the Avalanche. The San Jose Sharks are still figuring things out, while the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers have each had their own struggles.
The Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders have both been playing well recently and both can compete with the Avalanche. Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the winning streak reach 14 games after the Dec. 6 game against the Rangers.
