The Colorado Avalanche have been driving excessive of late. They acquired revenge on the Washington Capitals for an earlier loss, then upped their profitable streak to a few video games by drubbing the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 7-4 on their very own house ice.
On Monday, the Avalanche squared off with the Tampa Bay Lightning, seeking to avenge a Halloween Eve 5-2 loss within the midst of what was an unpleasant dropping streak for the group. As an alternative, the Avalanche acquired buried and did so early. There are one way or the other a number of takeaways from the 8-2 loss to the Lightning, so let’s get proper into it.
On the Unsuitable Facet of Historical past
To say that Lightning ahead Brandon Hagel had himself an evening can be an understatement. The Avalanche discovered themselves on the improper facet of Lightning historical past on Monday night time in a few methods. Firstly, Hagel had 4 assists within the first interval, tying the NHL report.
Secondly, Hagel tied the franchise report for assists in a single recreation with 5 on the night time. He joins Mark Recchi (March 1, 2009), Martin St. Louis (Nov. 18, 2010), and Darren Raddysh (March 9, 2024) on the prime of the listing. Maybe extra impressively, it took him lower than half-hour to hit the mark.
Hagel assisted on 5 of the primary six targets from Tampa Bay, serving to bury the Avalanche earlier than the primary buzzer sounded. He’s additionally quietly having the most effective season of his profession with 26 factors by way of the group’s first 20 video games. It’s additionally his third straight recreation with a number of factors, placing him on a scorching streak in contrast to any he’s had earlier than.
A Nightmare for Goaltenders
Cease me for those who’ve heard this earlier than: goaltending was a problem for the Avalanche. It has been arguably the speaking level this season, and that’s saying one thing given what number of accidents the Avalanche have needed to take care of to date. On Monday night time, “atrocious” would have been an improve to what we truly noticed.
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Justus Annunen acquired the nod on Monday, his first begin since a win in Philadelphia on Nov. 18. He confronted all of 12 pictures within the first interval, giving up 5 of them, earlier than being pulled in the beginning of the second interval for the embattled Alex Georgiev. Sadly, it went no higher for him. He gave up three targets on 14 pictures, even breaking his stick in frustration after one of many targets.
Georgiev lasted just below half-hour, finally giving strategy to Annunen once more within the third interval. Fortunately, the onslaught had stopped and Annunen acquired out of it with out one other objective towards. It’s a kind of nights which are so dangerous for a goaltender that each one you are able to do is push it to the again of your thoughts and overlook about it.
Ivan Ivan Had a Evening
If there was one vivid facet to the whole night time – and there actually was just one – it might be Ivan Ivan’s efficiency. The younger winger has had an up-and-down begin to his season, however he was the lone Avalanche scorer on the night time, getting each tallies for the group.
Significantly spectacular was his second objective, a slick rush that started in his personal zone and included a transfer on the blue line that just about went by way of his personal teammate’s skates. Ivan recovered the puck and fired off a wrist shot from simply above the hash marks that hit Andrei Vasilevskiy, ricocheted off of Brayden Level, and located itself within the internet.
It was a kind of targets that just about grew to become comical given how the night time had gone. Secondary scoring is at all times wanted, particularly given the truth that famous person Nathan MacKinnon has simply two assists (and factors) over his final 5 video games.
To cite the nice present Letterkenny: “Typically you get speed-bagged.” The Lightning poured it on within the opening body and didn’t cease till halfway by way of the third interval. There are just about no optimistic takeaways from this one and the Avalanche will collectively transfer on as a result of that’s all there may be to be accomplished.
The Avalanche received’t have lengthy to rebound, internet hosting the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night time. There will likely be few “simple” video games given the division, and the Avalanche have a troublesome half-dozen video games forward of them. All there may be to do is mud your self off, get again on the horse, and attempt to do higher the subsequent time round.
