Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks (8:00 p.m. MT)
The Colorado Avalanche return to the ice after a commanding victory against the Edmonton Oilers. Following their dominant 9-1 win last night, they travel to Vancouver to face the Canucks in the first of three regular-season clashes.
Last night's matchup was a strong test for Colorado, as they faced the reigning Western Conference Champions back-to-back. The Avalanche rose to the challenge, with four players—Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Jack Drury, and Parker Kelly—each nearing hat-trick performances.
Beyond the star players, Colorado's depth also made a significant impact. The team controlled most aspects of the game, with few setbacks including a 0-for-7 power play and another goal by Gabe Landeskog disallowed due to offside. These minor issues were negligible in a game that ended with a decisive scoreline.
Looking ahead, the Avalanche aim to secure another two points tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, who will also be competing on consecutive nights and likely face similar fatigue challenges.
"Four different Colorado players had competing hat-trick bids on the night, those players being Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Jack Drury, and Parker Kelly."
"Everything seemed to go right for Colorado, except for a couple of things: going 0/7 on the power play and Gabe Landeskog having yet another goal called back for being offside."
Despite minor setbacks, the Avalanche continue to demonstrate formidable strength both on and off the scoresheet as they press on in their regular-season campaign.