Ready for the Stretch
The Colorado Avalanche ended the month of February against the Chicago Blackhawks
It was a very interesting and fruitful Saturday for this hockey and wrestling fan. On that day, Chicago's United Center hosted the annual Elimination Chamber event, which serves as the final PPV (or PLE) stop before WrestleMania. While that was going on, the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Chicago Blackhawks, with the Avs donning the division rivalry alternates for the second straight game. The Avs were coming off a terrible loss to the Minnesota Wild, so we were looking to take that out on somebody.
Mackenzie Blackwood was in net against Spencer Knight, but it appeared to be 1-0 Hawks in the first minute. However, the players kept playing, and it was ruled that the shot was "crossbar and out," and the Blackhawks themselves knew it wasn't a goal. Game remained scoreless until Chicago received a power play. It was successful, and of course, it was Connor Bedard. 1-0 Hawks, for real this time, and Chicago received another PP later on. This one was killed off, and at the tail end of the first period, the Avs went on the power play.
Power play spread out into the 2nd period, and it was killed off. Avs were penalized for Too Many Men, but Chicago's PP turned into a 4-on-4. An abbreviated Avs PP followed, and we got a couple of more PPs as well. The last one looked like it would get something, but it was killed off. However, five seconds after the kill, Cale Makar ties it up! Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas with the assists, and it's 1-1 after 40.
The 3rd period practically began with the Avs on the penalty kill, and it was successful. Avs were continuing to get the shots, and it was at 7:31 that Gavin Brindley gave us our first lead! Sam Malinski and Devon Toews with the assists. Minutes later, Gabriel Landeskog was called for slashing on Bedard; soft call, but the refs in this are still angels compared to the ones in the game against Minnesota. Avs killed it off, and later on, Knight was pulled for the extra attacker, but it allowed Makar to net his second of the game, and the same pair assisted: MacKinnon and Necas.
The Avalanche won, 3-1, over the Chicago Blackhawks, and that win was clinched while CM Punk was in the midst of defending his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor; with Punk wearing Blackhawks gear. It was a great defensive game, mainly because the Avs outshot Chicago 2-1 pretty much. A pair of goals for Makar, a pair of assists each for MacKinnon and Necas, a very stellar performance en route to our 39th win of the season. The Avs enter the pivotal month of March with the top record in the entire league, and it's pretty close in the Central Division, with Dallas and Minnesota breathing down our necks.
The Avalanche will kick off the month of March in California. First off, we'll be in Los Angeles on Monday against the Kings, and then on Tuesday, it's off to the OC against the Ducks. After that, we pay the Dallas Stars a visit on Friday. It's going to be a very interesting March for the Avs, as we will have three games on TNT this month--one of them being a home game against the Stars on the 18th (my 41st birthday)--as well as one game on ESPN (the home meeting against the Penguins on the 16th).
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About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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