The Colorado Avalanche arrived in Chicago hoping to end a three-game losing streak. Colorado’s last game was a shootout loss to the Stars. It was a well-played game that didn’t go the Avs’ way. Two days before that, the Pittsburgh Penguins embarrassed them at home. Chicago was fresh off an easy road win against the Minnesota Wild. Colorado only needed one point from the game in order to clinch a playoff berth. The crucial question prior to Friday’s puck drop concerned the Avalanche’s potential performance.

View from the Mountaintop

After playing unsuccessfully with eleven forwards and seven defensemen, the Avalanche called up Ivan Ivan before the Stars game. Although they ended up losing that game, it was clearly a better strategy than the eleven-seven setup. With Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, Ross Colton and Logan O’Connor not quite ready, Ivan once again found himself in the lineup. Mackenzie Blackwood started in net.

With ten shots on goal in the first nine minutes, the Avalanche began with a strong game, letting through just two shots. They played an absolutely dominant first period, scoring two goals (one on the power play) and outshooting the Blackhawks 19–5. They outshot the Blackhawks 15–6 in the second and added two more goals in the third. Total shots on goal at the end of the night were 49–20. Arvid Soderblom was the only reason this wasn’t a blowout win.

The Avalanche changed up their power play since adding Nazem Kadri back to the roster. It’s not only about Kadri, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. Previously, Necas occupied right wing, MacKinnon left, poised for a slapshot both squads expected. With Necas now on the left and Kadri on the right, MacKinnon plays low. The change has definitely paid off. They had one power-play goal against Dallas and two against Chicago, including this beauty from Kadri.

Colorado had a four-minute power play late in the third that they couldn’t cash in on, but they were already up 4–1 by that point. They were understandably not playing with the same urgency by that point. For months now, the power play has felt like the Avalanche’s biggest weakness, so being two-for-five tonight was good to see.

Colorado’s lackluster play against Pittsburgh led many to wonder if the team was falling apart. Was this what fans should expect with Landeskog out of the lineup? Bednar said after practice on March 17 that several players, including Scott Wedgewood and Joel Kiviranta, were battling illness in that game. Yes, the loss was embarrassing. But with multiple injuries and sick players on the ice, it wasn’t as meaningful as it felt. The games against Dallas and Chicago proved this team can still play a great game, even when missing key pieces. They became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff spot on Friday night. Getting Landeskog, Lehkonen, and O’Connor back will be the last piece of the puzzle.

Up Next

The Avalanche now head to Washington to battle the Capitals on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. MT. NHL Network will broadcast the game.