The Colorado Avalanche have found themselves in a decent position when it comes to making the playoffs. Coach Roy has the Avalanche prepared for battle, and what a battle it could turn out to be.
The Avs are currently in control, with a game in hand on the Minnesota Wild and just a point behind them for the last wild card position. Colorado also holds the tie-breaker, having two more ROW’s than the Wild.
Playing without their top two pivots will be a tall order but this is the nature of the game.
Overcoming Adversity
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Colorado is no different from every other team in the NHL, in that they have to overcome some adversity when injuries inevitably occur.
Injuries to top forwards Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon have the Avalanche on the ropes. To complicate things further, recently acquired Eric Gelinas is “out for a while” just when he was settling into his new team. They have however, kept on winning in their absence.
This is exactly why Joe Sakic brought in players such as Carl Soderberg, Mikkel Boedker, Mikhail Grigorenko, Blake Comeau, Shawn Matthias, and Francois Beauchemin. They have all played their respective roles extremely well and this new depth is a reason why Colorado’s season is far from over.
Now the team must prepare for the most important two games of their season and hope Duchene and MacKinnon heal up sooner than later.
Two Massive Games Ahead
Everyone will have to step up their game to come out of this stretch on the winning side. If Semyon Varlamov heats up, that will go a long way for the team, who now look forward to the two most crucial match-ups of their season.
Next on the schedule for the Avalanche is a game tonight versus the Philadelphia Flyers, who like the Avs, are battling for a final playoff position. As it stands now, the Flyers hold the last wild card position with 83 points and a game in hand over the Detroit Red Wings. However, Detroit are tied with them while also having one more ROW.
Both teams will be playing playoff desperation hockey tonight, that’s for sure.
“It’s a big game for both teams. They are in the same position as us.” – Roy on Philly pic.twitter.com/LDHFXP5PzA
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 24, 2016
The following clash, coming on Saturday, will be against none other than the Minnesota Wild. Colorado can’t look too far ahead though, as tonight’s game is the only thing they should be focusing on at the moment.
If the Avalanche can pull off a victory against an equally desperate Flyers team, they will go into the crucial game versus Minnesota full of confidence.
