December 23rd 2024.
After enduring a grueling five-week stretch of nonstop travel, the Avalanche was in dire need of a break. However, the team was finally starting to see some success as they racked up points like they were meant to. Their latest game against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena proved to be a testament to this.
Joel Kiviranta, who had been having a stellar season, set a new career-high in goals and points with a hat trick. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Blackwood had 17 saves and played a crucial role in the Avs' 5-2 victory over the Kraken. Kiviranta's eighth goal of the season, assisted by Mikko Rantanen, put the Avalanche in the lead with just under eight minutes left in the second period. He went on to score two more goals, bringing his total for the season to 10 and surpassing his previous career-high of eight goals in 70 games for the Dallas Stars. It was an impressive feat, especially considering that five of his 10 goals came in the past three games.
Rantanen also had a standout performance with three assists, while Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin each had two points. The Avs have now won seven of their last nine games and are currently six games above .500, their best record of the season.
Despite not facing many challenging shots, Blackwood made a crucial save on Jaden Schwartz's breakaway in the third period, much to the delight of the crowd at Ball Arena. Blackwood has been known to perform better when he faces more shots, making his performance against the Kraken all the more impressive.
The Avs started the game strong with a power-play goal, their third in a row. Cale Makar, one of their go-to players with the extra man, scored his 11th goal of the season, tying him with Zach Werenski for the most among defensemen. The Avs' power play had been struggling, but they seem to have found their groove with four goals in the last three games.
The Kraken managed to score a goal late in the first period, but the Avs quickly regained the lead with a goal from Nichushkin just 11 seconds later. This was his 11th goal in 19 games since returning from a six-month suspension, making him one of the top scorers in the league during that time.
It was a well-deserved win for the Avs, who controlled the game for the most part and capitalized on their opportunities. With their recent success, the team is looking towards a brighter future. And with players like Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood forming a strong friendship off the ice, the Avs are not only a force to be reckoned with on the ice but also a tight-knit team off the ice.
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