It is no secret; Colorado Avalanche fans are getting excited about this start to the 2017-18 NHL season. The Avs have looked fantastic, especially when compared to last season. and they are still getting acquainted with their off-season acquisitions. As the team tries to build upon their hot start, here’s a couple things to watch for over the next few weeks of the season.
Backup Bernier needs to be reliable
In the previous few seasons, goaltending depth has been a weakness for the Avalanche. While Semyon Varlamov looks to be healthy; his side-to-side movement between the pipes looks much as it did before last season’s injury problems. In Varlamov’s three starts this season, he is 3-0 after facing 91 shots; only five have snuck past him. From all indications, Varlamov will be the starter for the foreseeable future.
Jonathan Bernier started his first game against the New Jersey Devils and he had a rough evening. Bernier faced 39 shots and and surrendered four goals. Looking back at that game, however, the Avs missed chances to take control of the game and put some goals on the scoreboard — leaving Bernier out to dry. That said, the team is off to a roaring start to the 2017-18 season and appear to have confidence in their net-minders; there is no room for a letdown in goal when Varlamov needs a night off.
Put the pedal to the metal
The NHL has made a gear change in the past few years, and teams that win in today’s league are young and fast. The Penguins were ahead of the curve when Sidney Crosby came into the league and were able to win multiple championships with that formula.
The Avalanche are finally heading in that direction, as their off-season pick-ups and youngsters are settling in and showing off their wheels.
J.T. Compher has been a difference-maker early in the season, managing three points with a goal and two assists. Compher found a home on the third line along side of captain Gabriel Landeskog and new edition Colin Wilson, who came to the Avs by way of Nashville in the offseason.
These two veterans will draw a lot of the attention down the stretch that should allow Compher to take advantage of mismatches and keep putting points up on the stat line. The 22 year-old will be a player to watch, as he looks very comfortable in his second NHL season.
Nail Yakapov might not be a rookie,but the 24 year-old has an outstanding start to the season, potting three goals and two assists while developing good chemistry with linemates Matt Duchene and Alexander Kerfoot.
An even better sign for this talented second line for the Avalanche? Between the three of them, they already have 12 combined points after only a few games. That’s an unrealistic pace, of course, but they haven’t shown signs of slowing down.
