December 17th 2024.
The Colorado Avalanche has been busy adding new players to their roster in the past year and a half, with the recent acquisitions of Miles Wood, Scott Wedgewood, and Mackenzie Blackwood. But despite these additions, it seems like they may not be done yet. Kiefer Sherwood, a player not on the Avs' team, proved to be a formidable opponent as he scored all three goals for the Vancouver Canucks in their recent match-up against the Avs. His impressive performance led the Canucks to a 3-1 victory over Colorado at Rogers Centre.
Sherwood's goals were scored in each period of the game, with one during even strength, another while shorthanded, and the final one into an empty net. This secured the Avs' fate and left them with a loss. However, the Avs did have a strong moment in the second period where they put a lot of pressure on the Canucks' goalie, Thatcher Demko. But it wasn't enough to match their dominant performance against the Winnipeg Jets in their previous game.
One of the key factors in the Avs' success earlier in the season was their power play, but lately, it seems to have hit a rough patch. In their last 18 games, they have only scored five goals out of 48 power play opportunities. They have also allowed two shorthanded goals, making their power play record a mere plus-three in the past 18 games. This is a significant decline from their first 15 games, where they scored 18 goals and only allowed one shorthanded goal. The Avs' power play struggled in their match against the Canucks, with only seven shot attempts in eight minutes and allowing two, including the breakaway goal by Sherwood.
Another highlight of the game was goalie Mackenzie Blackwood's strong performance. Despite not getting much help from his team, Blackwood managed to stop several shots, including the initial one that led to the first goal by Sherwood. The Canucks' expected goals were at 3.34, according to Natural Stat Trick, making Blackwood's performance crucial to keeping the Avs in the game.
The Avs also had a new addition to their team in Tye Felhaber, who made his debut on Monday. He became the eighth player to make his NHL debut with the Avs this season, and in total, they have used 36 different players in just 33 games. This is a significant number, especially when compared to last season, where they only used 37 players throughout the entire year. Felhaber almost scored his first goal in the second period, making a strong impression in his first game.
The Avs are eagerly awaiting the return of Josh Manson, who is currently on the trip with the team. Head coach Jared Bednar has stated that Manson may play in one of their upcoming games in California. His return would be a much-needed boost to the team, especially with their current struggles on the power play. The Avs are hoping to have Manson back soon to help upgrade their defense and strengthen their chances of winning.
Despite the Avs' recent loss, they are still a strong team with a lot of potential. With the return of key players and the debut of new ones, they are determined to continue their journey towards the Stanley Cup. Want to stay updated on all things Avs? Be sure to sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get exclusive NHL analysis and news.
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