The Colorado Avalanche are quietly putting together one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history. With a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Saturday afternoon, the Avalanche (47-21-6) clinched their first playoff birth since 2010, and net minder Semyon Varlamov continued his outstanding season, knotting his NHL leading 37th win.
First year coach Patrick Roy is continuing his supreme hockey reign in the city of Denver, trading his pads for suits and ties. Using a tough-minded, game-by-game mentality, Roy has instilled a veteran attitude within the franchise that averages just 27 years in age. And let’s be real here, what opposing coach is going to stand up to Roy after his outburst in the first game of the season, where he ripped down the glass divider and nearly killed every soul on the Anaheim bench?
First year coach Patrick Roy is continuing his supreme hockey reign in the city of Denver, trading his pads for suits and ties. Using a tough-minded, game-by-game mentality, Roy has instilled a veteran attitude within the franchise that averages just 27 years in age. And let’s be real here, what opposing coach is going to stand up to Roy after his outburst in the first game of the season, where he ripped down the glass divider and nearly killed every soul on the Anaheim bench?
Hockey is all about mental toughness and a badass team attitude, and the Avs have plenty of it, starting with the head coach. Captain Gabe Landeskog, 21, and Center Nathan MacKinnon, 18, are the face of this franchise’s success, something that will excite Denver and fill the seats in the Pepsi Center for years to come. I'm sure Landeskog is ecstatic on his recent ability to buy beer, and I'm even more sure that he is buying it for MacKinnon and his buddies. The squad includes 5 players that have notched 50+ points already this season, and arguably the most dominant goaltender in the league this season in Varley (37-14-5).
In a sport where having the best player never equals automatic success, the Avalanche have been able to gel as a team, and found ways to win games all season long. Big egos and contract disputes are nowhere to be seen within the organization. The Avs eclipsed 100 points this afternoon, jumping them ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks (whom they are 4-1 against this season), and still have 8 games remaining in the regular season.
With Peyton Manning and the Broncos stealing much of the limelight in Denver over the past few years, the Avalanche are crisply skating into the playoffs, looking to raise more banners into the rafters and re-create the Avalanche success that Denver has seen in years prior. Patrick Roy has his sweater hanging high above the ice, and a plethora of YouTube videos of him beating the shit out of any goalie that dared to cross his path (he went 3/3 with Red Wings goalies). Nothing gets me fired up more than Roy's right hook in his prime. GO AVS!!
In a sport where having the best player never equals automatic success, the Avalanche have been able to gel as a team, and found ways to win games all season long. Big egos and contract disputes are nowhere to be seen within the organization. The Avs eclipsed 100 points this afternoon, jumping them ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks (whom they are 4-1 against this season), and still have 8 games remaining in the regular season.
With Peyton Manning and the Broncos stealing much of the limelight in Denver over the past few years, the Avalanche are crisply skating into the playoffs, looking to raise more banners into the rafters and re-create the Avalanche success that Denver has seen in years prior. Patrick Roy has his sweater hanging high above the ice, and a plethora of YouTube videos of him beating the shit out of any goalie that dared to cross his path (he went 3/3 with Red Wings goalies). Nothing gets me fired up more than Roy's right hook in his prime. GO AVS!!
-Guest Post by yours truly, C-Moore.