Before Thursday night’s slate of NHL games, the Avalanche had the fourth-best record in the league. The season is still young, sure, but that’s elite territory.
For the second-youngest, and second lowest-paid team in the NHL, it’s an impressive marker.
As the Avs return to Denver for two games this weekend — tonight against the Edmonton Oilers and Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Kings — it’s time to ask how are they doing it?
The answer is: The old-fashioned way — with good ol’ hockey hardheadedness. Let’s pinpoint the play:
So far this season, the Avalanche is neither offensively explosive (they rank a respectable, but not earth-shaking, 10th in the NHL in goals) nor especially stingy on defense (14th in the league).
And they aren’t blowing teams off the ice with some spectacular showing. Colorado ranks 20th in the league in plus/minus. But the Avs are doing the little things — and it’s what separates them from last season’s squad.
Colorado ranks second in the NHL in power-play percentage, scoring on 30.8 percent of its man-advantage opportunities (the team finished last season with an 18.5 percent rate).
And the Avs are mucking, winning 53.7 percent of their faceoffs — the second-best puck-drop mark in the league.
In Wednesday’s 4-2 loss at Calgary, the Avs’ rally in the third period was too little, too late. But their second goal was illustrative: After crossing the blue line, at first outnumbered three to four, the Avs ripped off seven shots in 15 seconds. It was a barrage of offense that led to Ryan Wilson scoring his first goal of the season.
“We’ve had a lot of games on the road lately — seven out of our first nine — but we’re still a young team,” Avs coach Joe Sacco said after the game. “I don’t think that’s an excuse. What we saw in the third period was more of a reflection of how we play.”
Paul Stastny (two goals, five assists) and Ryan O’Reilly (seven assists) lead the team with seven points apiece. Stastny is filling his role as team leader. And the hard-working O’Reilly might be the new fan favorite in Colorado — he could be this season’s Ian Laperriere.
Just one off the point pace is David Jones, who leads the team with five goals, and 18-year-old rookie Gabriel Landeskog (four goals, two assists), who the team said Thursday will remain in the big leagues throughout the season.
Stay on the couch
Broncos fans get game-ready.
On Sunday, the Broncos, in a game against visiting Detroit, might have home-field advantage for the first time this season. An odd thought, but Denver fans likely will show up as a rejuvenated bunch.
So it’s fitting that former Broncos safety John Lynch will call color commentary for Fox (KDVR-31) with play-by-play guy Dick Stockton. The broadcast starts at 2 p.m.
Lynch can testify to exactly why the Broncos (2-4) opened Thursday as just 3-point underdogs to the Lions (5-2). Detroit, by most accounts, is a much more talented team.
But between Tim Tebow’s wild- card style and a Denver fan base eager to finally see some spark, the Broncos have a lot going for them.
Get off the couch
Gorillas on loose in LoDo.
There are dozens of Halloween-themed runs and walks and rides this weekend, in all corners of the Denver metro area and beyond. For a full listing, check for our searchable calendar.
For starters, see Saturday’s eighth edition of the Denver Gorilla Run. Organizers are expecting more than 1,000 people at the Wynkoop Brewing Company on 18th Street in LoDo. From there, the pack — most of them dressed in gorilla suits — will run around downtown.
It’s all a benefit for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. Check for info.
What we’d’d like to see
Battling for attention.
Never mind that a knee injury forced Georges St-Pierre off the headline bout at UFC 137 on Saturday in Las Vegas. There’s plenty more to take in on the card, especially for Colorado MMA fans.
In the top undercard bout (one below the B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz headliner), Cheick Kongo will go against Matt Mitrione in a heavyweight title eliminator. Kongo in recent weeks was training at Denver’s MusclePharm gym. That bout airs on pay-per-view.
Also, Denver native Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will face Dennis Siver in a lightweight fight on Spike TV. Cerrone, a former professional bull rider, has a 16-3-1 professional MMA record.
And Boulder’s Eliot “The Fire” Marshall will go against fellow lightweight Brandon Vera in a fight airing online on Facebook.
