Best in the West by Far

It's amazing how timing works. Eight years ago on this exact day, the Colorado Avalanche faced off against the St. Louis Blues in what was Game 82 for both teams. It was a head-to-head battle for the last playoff spot, and on that evening, the Avs won, 5-2, over the Blues, nabbing that last spot and ending the Blues' season. That was the Avs' first playoff appearance in four years, and it kicked off our current playoff streak, which now stands at a league-leading nine years.

Fast forward eight years to the day later, and we are facing the Blues again. A few differences: one, the game's in St. Louis. And secondly, while the Avs are playing for something, it's not a playoff spot--we got that weeks ago. This is our second chance to win not only the Central Division, but also the #1 seed in the Western Conference. We also entered this day with a chance to win the Presidents' Trophy, which would require the Carolina Hurricanes to lose in regulation, and possibly the Tampa Bay Lightning to get anything except a regulation win.

Scott Wedgewood was in net against Joel Hofer in this second meeting in three days. The Avs really clobbered Hofer in shots, but nothing was going in until Valeri Nichushkin tipped one in late in the frame. Thank goodness Val was in this one; he was not in Sunday's game against the Blues. Martin Necas would make it 2-0 later in the frame, and that was the score after 20 minutes, with the Avs outshooting St. Louis, 17-3.

Blues had a power play that started with three seconds left in the first, but during that Blues PP, it would be Nichushkin who put it in shorthanded! 3-0 Avs lead, and the penalty was killed off. With the way the game was going, it was over. Avs had 30 shots on goal while the Blues didn't even get to double digits yet. However, the Blues' eighth shot on goal did go in, and it was Robert Thomas because of course it is. Thomas has now scored St. Louis' last four goals, and in two games at that. WOW! With 1:03 left in the second, the Avs had a power play, but it became four on four before the frame ended.

All penalties were killed off in the third period. Refs didn't really call much; I think they learned their lesson from Sunday. Blues had one more PP that was knocked off, and with four minutes left in regulation, Hofer was pulled for the extra attacker. We had plenty of time to get the empty netter, but nothing. Didn't matter. Blues couldn't get anything either, and all that was left to do was count it down.

The Colorado Avalanche won, 4-1, over the St. Louis Blues, and with the win, we not only won the Central Division, we also locked up the #1 seed in the entire Western Conference. We didn't capture the Presidents' Trophy yet, because the game between the Hurricanes and Bruins went to overtime, but the Lightning's 6-2 loss did move us closer to doing so. The Avalanche will face off against whoever survives that logjam for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Realistically, we could face the Nashville Predators, which a good omen; that's who we faced in Round 1 in 2022. We could face the Los Angeles Kings, meaning that we'd be against the goalie who we won the Cup with. We could face the Winnipeg Jets--another chance to give Connor Hellebuyck nightmares. Or we could face these same Blues again!

One thing we do know: as a result of this victory, we will get Stars vs Wild in one of the Central Division's Semifinal series! This was an amazing win for the Avs, Wedgewood had an easy night, and Nichushkin had a pair of goals--one of them a shortie! Next up, the Avs host the Calgary Flames on Thursday, and if we win that game, the Presidents' Trophy is ours!

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