The 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night was definitely encouraging for the Colorado Avalanche, but not satisfying. While the Avs currently hold the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference, they are still a long way from being confident in their playoff chances.
Wednesday night’s victory at Pepsi Center marks the 30th win for Colorado, a victory where the Avs never had the lead until Jarome Iginla‘s game winner with 2:03 left in the game.
While the resiliency of the team winning late in the game is encouraging, as is Iginla’s nine-point month so far this February, the Avalanche still remain in an uncomfortable position in the standings. There is a lot of hockey yet to be played, and Colorado needs to continue looking to elevate their game to a playoff-caliber level.
The Montreal Canadiens were one of the NHL’s hottest teams to start the season, going 9-0-0 to start their year. After losing their Hart Trophy-winning goaltender in late November to a lower-body injury, the Canadiens have been in turmoil. They have lost seven of their last ten, their coach Michel Therrien is facing rumors of being fired and they have played themselves out of contention for a playoffs spot in the East.
That being said, there is no reason the Avalanche should have struggled with a team like the Canadiens as much as they did. Squeaking out a 3-2 victory in dramatic fashion, while losing in most statistical categories (shots, hits, takeaways, blocked shots), is nothing to be too excited about. A lot of work still has to be done to prove that Colorado truly is a viable contender.
The 64 points the Avalanche currently have is adequate for a playoff spot, but the teams that are on their trail are just a simple win streak from threatening Colorado’s position in the standings. The Avs have played the second most games in the league, behind only the Chicago Blackhawks, which means the three teams on Colorado’s tail (Nashville, Minnesota, Arizona), all have at least three games in hand to potentially catch the Avalanche.
The Predators have been in good form as of late, posting a 6-3-2 record in their last 11 and scoring just over three goals a game. As always, Nashville has a solid group of defensemen, making them tough to score on, but they also have recently fortified their group of forwards with the addition of Ryan Johansen. For the first time in the Predators’ history, they are an offensive threat as well as being strong in the defensive end. Their downfall this year could be the lackluster play of their typically-great goaltender, Pekka Rinne, but their presence in front of Rinne is stronger than ever.
Ever since Minnesota fired their head coach Mike Yeo, the Wild seem to have found a resurgence in their play and may have found the spark they needed for a playoff run. Under their new coach, John Torchetti, the Wild have played two games, scoring five goals in each. Only four points back with three games in hand, the Wild are the biggest threat to the Avalanche and are the team Avs fans need to keep an eye on and root against.
The Coyotes don’t seem to be much of a menace to Colorado’s wild card spot, but rumors have them being buyers at the trade deadline. The right trade could help Arizona make one final push during their final 26 games as they sit only six points behind the Avs and four behind the final wild card spot.
The Colorado Avalanche found a way to beat Montreal without their “A” game, but down the stretch, this formula will not be sustainable. With good teams breathing down their neck and more games in hand, the Avalanche will have to consistently find their own “A” game if they hope to maintain their playoff positioning.
With only four games in the upcoming 11 calendar days, the Avalanche have time to rest and regroup. Working hard towards finding a higher level of play will be imperative to Colorado’s chances, as they face only four non-conference games the rest of the season. Solid play against the difficult Western Conference will either make or break the Avalanche’s playoff hopes.