Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene fire a shot against the Minnesota Wild in NHL 16. (Screenshot)
Will the Colorado Avalanche return to the playoffs after finishing a disappointing 11th in the Western Conference last season?
In The Denver Post’s simulation of the Avs’ 2015-16 campaign in Electronic Arts’ NHL 16, the team certainly made a concerted push, especially at the end of the season, to return to the postseason.
See how the team fared:
The rules
To start, the latest roster update will pulled (this one was the Sept. 23 update from EA). The lines were grabbed from NHL reporter .
Also, injuries and trades were turned off. It would be a little ridiculous to read about the Sidney Crosby-led, Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers.
The lines
NHL 16 player rating in parenthesis.
Forwards:
First: Blake Comeau (83), Matt Duchene (88), Jarome Iginla (85)
Second: Gabe Landeskog (89), Nathan MacKinnon (86), Alex Tanguay (84)
Third: Mikko Rantanen (69), Carl Soderberg (84), Borna Rendalic (71)
Fourth: Cody McLeod (79), John Mitchell (81), Jack Skille (79)
Defense:
First: Francois Beauchemin (82), Eric Johnson (87)
Second: Nate Guenin (79), Tyson Barrie (87)
Third: Brad Stuart (81), Brandon Gormley (80)
Bench: Nikita Zadorov (82), Nick Holden (82)
Goaltenders: Semyon Varlamov (89) and Reto Berra (80)
The regular season
October
The Avs opened their season with a 6-5 shootout loss to Minnesota at home, followed a heartbreak defeat against the Stars. A slow start? Maybe, but the Avs rebounded and won their next five games before losing three in a row to close out the month with a record of 5-3-2.
November
Continuing a solid start to the year, the Avs added much needed points as they try to position themselves in a good spot moving into the heart of the year. November record: 6-5-3. Overall record: 11-8-5.
December
A rough month for the Avs. The team lost five in a row and seven out of eight to open the month, negating the relatively strong start they had. December record: 5-9-0. Overall record: 16-17-5.
January
An average month for the Avs in all sense of the word. Finishing 7-7, Colorado failed to gain ground as the team sits outside the playoff picture — for the moment. Landeskog is the lone Avalanche represented in the NHL All-Star Game. January record: 7-7-0. Overall record: 22-21-5.
February
Finally a bit of a turnaround, Colorado slowly climbs back into the playoff picture. February record: 6-4-2. Overall record: 29-28-7.
March
The Avs Entered the month at No. 9 in the Western Conference and battling for a playoff spot in the tightly contested Western Conference (by season’s end, the 11th-ranked team was only 14 points away fro the No. 1 team). Colorado answered the challenge, winning six of their final seven to close out the month. March record: 10-3-0. Overall record: 39-31-7.
April
Remember Rocktober? This is Aprilanche. Adding onto their late run in March, the Avs went undefeated in their final five games, completing a 10-1-1 run in their last 12 games to clinch the seventh spot in the playoffs and a date with the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks. April record: 4-0-1. Overall record: 43-31-8.
Statistics
Skaters
Gabe Landeskog2642683121Nathan MacKinnon3231632214Matt Duchene20365616-2Alex Tanguay104050811Jarome Iginla281745453Tyson Barrie5323722-7Carl Soderberg16193577-19Blake Comeau82634378Erik Johnson8223080-3John Mitchell111627510Jack Skille12921198Mikko Rantanen3161910-15Nate Holden314172417Francois Beauchemin78155011Cody McLeod5914513Borna Rendulic761312-14Brad Stuart4913262Nikita Zadorov21012612Goaltenders
Semyon Varlamov72392562.27.925Reto Berra144613.29.896The playoffsThe Avs came out strong against the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, continuing their momentum and taking the first game in Chicago. The Blackhawks win the next two, taking a lead, but Colorado comes back strong, winning the next two, giving themselves a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
However, Chicago showed why it won three championships in six years. In Denver for Game 6, the Blackhawks dominated, winning 5-2 and taking the game back home. There, surrounded by a raucous Chi-town crowd (I can only imagine), they won — barely — and ended the Avs’ season.
Game 1: Won 4-3 at Chicago
Game 2: Lost 4-1 at Chicago
Game 3: Lost 3-2 vs. Chicago
Game 4: Won 4-3 vs. Chicago
Game 5: Won 3-1 at Chicago
Game 6: Lost 5-2 vs. Chicago
Game 7: Lost 4-3 at Chicago
The 2015-16 NHL playoff tree in The Denver Post’s season simulation in NHL 16. (Screenshot)
Chicago would go on to stomp the rest of the Western Conference, winning 4-1 over the Nashville Predators and then 4-1 against Anaheim for the conference championship.
In the East, Philadelphia battled through the Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington to advance to the finals.
Chicago continued its run in the Stanley Cup Finals, dominating 4-2 against the Flyers. The Blackhawks’ dynasty continues with their second straight championship and fourth in seven years.
Award winners
Here are the list of award winners:
Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks defeat Philadelphia Eagles, 4-2
Art Ross: Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis
Hart Memorial Trophy: Tarasenko
James Norris Memorial Trophy: D. Doughty, Los Angeles
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Tarasenko
Calder Memorial Trophy: Sam Bennett, Calgary
Conn Smythe Trophy: Patrick Kane, Chicago
Vezina Trophy: Jimmy Howard, Detroit
William M. Jennings Trophy: Howard
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Jared Cowen, Ottawa
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit
Ted Lindsay Award: Tarasenko
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Tarasenko
