For the fifth time in 13 games, an Avalanche game needed overtime to find a winner. In each of those cases, Colorado was unable to secure a second point.
The Avs lost 3-2 in OT to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, falling to an extraordinary 7-1-5 record. They have only one regulation loss, the only team in the league without multiple. But they’ve also just barely won more than half their games.
Still, Colorado collected three of four points available on a back-to-back two-game road trip.
10 Observations
1. The Avs are 7-1 in eight games that ended in regulation. They’re also 0-5 in overtime and shootouts. And honestly, it’s getting a little embarrassing.
It’s not just that they’re losing these, but it’s how it’s happening. The odd-man rushes, the careless play when they have possession in OT. Mostly, it’s the fact that it’s always Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the ice when the other team scores the winner in the extra period.
2. These games won’t matter when the playoffs come. And I’m very much aware of that. But at the same time, the talent level on this roster should, on the low end, have a 2-3 record past regulation.
It’s also quite concerning that they’ve been unable to close out more games in regulation. This game in particular was an example of one they should’ve been able to win before OT. It was 2-2 entering the third, and the Avs had 30 shots in the first 40 minutes.
They couldn’t muster much of anything in the third period or OT.
3. Shout out to Taylor Makar for making his debut. It wasn’t flashy, and it was never going to be a huge role. But it’s still cool to see a kid the Avs drafted in the seventh round find way into an NHL game four years later.
4. Mackenzie Blackwood looked fine, but definitely has some rust to shake off. Several readers have referenced the Jacob Markstrom return in Denver as a good example of why you shouldn’t play your goalie against a strong team when he’s coming back from an injury. I wonder if that played any part in Scott Wedgewood getting Vegas and Blackwood playing the Sharks.
5. Two games in a row with a goal before the first minute mark for Necas. That’s a great way to start games. It’s too bad they couldn’t build that early lead this time.
6. Brent Burns played 24:11 in this game, second only to Makar. I know I keep saying it, but I’ll forever be amazed at the fitness level of this guy at his age. And on the second part of a back to back no less.
7. Getting back Logan O’Connor and Samuel Girard will help a lot next weekend, if they’re ready as planned by then. Ilya Solovyov did not crack 10 minutes of ice time, and both Taylor Makar and Zakhar Bardakov played fewer than seven.
I’d like for this team not to have too many games like last year, when it felt like two or three guys each night were unusable.
8. Macklin Celebrini is worth the price of admission. I want him on Team Canada’s Olympic roster in three months.
9. As of the conclusion of this game, MacKinnon is the only player in the NHL this year with 10 goals. It’s also pretty cool that one of the seven guys with nine is Necas.
10. The best part about the Avs’ schedule in November is that there will be a ton of days to practice between games. Especially early.
This will be a massive help for a team that has barely had practice days. And even more so for guys like Blackwood, and eventually O’Connor and Girard.
