DENVER — First place in the Central Division is within reach and the Avalanche have made it clear that they’re going for it.
Following their 3-0 victory at Ball Arena on Monday against the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights, the Avs are just two points back of Dallas with two games in hand. The Stars lost 5-4 to Vancouver in overtime on Monday. Colorado hosts the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday before traveling to Dallas for a matinee on Saturday in the first game following Friday’s trade deadline. The Avs could end the week in the top spot.
Before this 18-game stretch where the Avalanche are 14-2-2, they trailed both Dallas and Winnipeg by 14 points, each, with three games in hand. They were also well outside the playoff picture. But in this stretch, the team admitted at times that they’re not too concerned with where they end up as long as they qualify for the postseason. Not only was the top seed not a priority, but they also mentioned home-ice advantage not mattering.
But that’s since changed.
“I think we’re gonna push as hard as possible no matter where we are in the standings, whether it’s in reach or not,” said center J.T. Compher, who recorded an assist in Monday’s victory.
The Avs are the NHL’s best team over the last 6 weeks, since the start of this run. They’ve leaned heavily on their top stars but have seen the depth scoring pick up as well. Superstar winger Mikko Rantanen led the way Monday, scoring both Avalanche goals, to reach the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career. he’s just the second Avs player to reach the mark since former Colorado legend Milan Hejduk had 50 in 2003.
Rantanen is also the fastest player in Avs history to reach 40 goals, surpassing Joe Sakic’s record of 65 games.
“For sure, we’re trying to push now for the first place in the Central,” Rantanen said. “It’s in our hands, basically. So it gives a little extra motivation.”
Colorado struggled early in the season because of a bevy of injuries. Teams atop the Western Conference had a chance to really pull away from the defending champs, but they all seemingly blew that opportunity. And with Colorado now winners of six straight and inching closer to the top spot in the entire conference — the 2022 Stanley Cup champions are well positioned to make another run.
A lot of that is thanks to superstar center Nathan MacKinnon. Since the All-Star break, MacKinnon has had nine goals and eight assists in 10 games. He also admitted that score-watching is part of his daily routine.
“We’re definitely trying to catch (the top teams),” he said. “And I keep track for sure of where we’re at. We’re in a good spot. I think we’re playing pretty good hockey. So yeah, definitely encouraging.”
Goalie Alexandar Georgiev has also been a force for the Avs. Following Monday’s shutout, Georgiev is 10-1-1 since Colorado started this hot stretch, posting a whopping .937 save percentage in the process (387/413). He has won each of his last five starts.
“We’re in a good spot right now,” Georgiev said of the standings. “We got a good chance to climb the ladder and obviously the main goal is just to be in the playoff by the end of the regular season. But if we got a chance, we have to push and try to be at the top there.”
