The Vancouver Canucks matched the Colorado Avalanche goal-for-goal through three periods of hockey Tuesday night. But it was the Avalanche fighting for their playoff lives, and Colorado brought the fight to the Canucks’ doorstep early and often.
What it comes down to, is that the Avalanche need somebody, anybody to force this team forward ahead of Calgary’s charge. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long offseason for the Colorado hockey faithful.
There are some players who are elites and some player who are merely good. The difference between them is when the season comes to its end, the good player maintain while the elites raise their game. I’ve yet to see Anderson raise his game.
Once again we find that hockey, like all sports, is a game where it doesn’t matter if you are the better team for a longer period of time. It only matters if you make your opportunities count.
It doesn’t matter who plays better longer, it matters who makes it count. The Ducks were in control for most of the game, but they couldn’t get the puck in the net. The Avalanche played a slow game by their standards, but when they had momentum they made the Ducks pay.
Well kiss our pucks, NHL schedulers. The Avs are on the war path now, and it’s all thanks to you.
This week’s stretch of games will undoubtedly be the toughest yet, even as good as the club must be feeling about their chances. Each of these games could be a loss, and one of them is almost guaranteed to be.
