The Colorado Avalanche are proving why they are the real deal as they are off to their best start in franchise history. They started off slow but have since been dominant, especially on their home ice. There are many eyes on the Avalanche who have been the hottest team in NHL with a roster filled with talent and passion.
There were high expectations set for the Avalanche including a Stanley Cup Championship. After another heartbreaking second-round exit in 2021, they are hoping for a different fate. Colorado owns a 30-8-3 record, with 17 straight home wins, and the top spot in Central Division. Good teams find ways to win and that is what they are doing while playing the game the right way. Here are reasons why the Avalanche are the real deal and why fans should continue to tune in. They won’t want to miss this second half of the season as there is much more to see.
Real Deal Roster
Colorado is a tough match-up team that uses their speed and skill against opponents who can’t keep up with them. Especially since the Avalanche are stacked on all four lines with talent and grit. They have a lot of power forwards that take advantage of miscues and create scoring chances. This is a fun team to watch whether it be a big overtime goal, unbelievable shot, or fight. They have recently come through with some nice comeback wins thanks to their talented roster.
The Avalanche have the strongest top line in the NHL including Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, and Nathan MacKinnon who are already at 30-plus points each. This line possesses championship qualities like strength, speed, and grit. Also, they make the big plays when they need to and find ways to score big goals. Even Cale Makar has over 40 points as a defenseman and is becoming a star two-way player. They are getting good results from the offense on all four lines. Their defense is contributing on both sides of the puck especially Erik Johnson and Devon Toews. Which seems to have always been a part of their game plan.
Other Real Deal Qualities
Darcy Kuemper could be key to Colorado’s success especially in the playoffs because goaltending can be a struggle for them in big games. He will be the x-factor for them as they head into the second half of the season as long as he stays healthy. In his first season with the Avalanche, Kuemper has posted an 20-5-1 record with 2.64 goals against average and he has a .913 save percentage. He is looking like the goaltender that they hoped for when acquiring him this offseason and helps keep them in games.
If Avalanche want to go deep in their quest for a Stanley Cup Championship, then they need to stay healthy and consistent. Which can be tough when playing an 82 game season in a tough conference. The Colorado Avalanche remain a favorite to take it all, so keep an eye on them.
