The Avalanche's Dominance Leaves the Blues in the Dust: A Night of Hockey Mastery and Controversy
The Colorado Avalanche delivered a jaw-dropping performance on Wednesday, dismantling the St. Louis Blues 6-1 at Ball Arena. This victory not only extended their home winning streak to an impressive 15 games but also marked their ninth consecutive win overall. But here's where it gets controversial: was this a showcase of the Avalanche's brilliance, or a glaring exposé of the Blues' shortcomings? Let’s dive in.
The Avalanche’s offensive firepower was on full display, outshooting the Blues 43-13, including a staggering 20-4 advantage in the first period. Valeri Nichushkin stole the spotlight with a hat trick, while Nathan MacKinnon added two goals and two assists. Brock Nelson also contributed with a goal and an assist, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 12 saves to improve his season record to 13-1-1.
“The season’s been great, but we haven’t had a start like that, and that was a lot of fun,” MacKinnon remarked. “I wish we got the shutout for Blacky, but, you know, it is what it is.”
The Avalanche wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking a 1-0 lead just one minute into the game courtesy of Nichushkin’s first goal. He capitalized on his own rebound after an initial save by Jordan Binnington. Cale Makar appeared to add another goal shortly after, but a coach’s challenge for goalie interference nullified the tally. MacKinnon, positioned near the crease, had made contact with Binnington as Makar’s shot went in.
Before the crowd could fully voice their displeasure with the officials’ decision, MacKinnon scored and pointed to the puck in the net, subtly protesting the disallowed goal. And this is the part most people miss: while the announcement for his 400th career goal was still ongoing, Nichushkin struck again, making it 3-0 just 13 seconds later. At the 4:39 mark, MacKinnon buried a one-timer to extend the lead to 4-0, prompting the Blues to call a timeout.
Blackwood faced minimal action, going nearly 12 minutes without a shot before making a spectacular split save on Jake Neighbours during a two-on-one play. He also denied the Blues on a power play later in the second period. Colorado further padded their lead with a power play goal from Nelson, set up by Makar, cementing their dominance.
The Blues managed only four shots in the first period and three in the second, adding six in the third. Dalibor Dvorsky finally spoiled Blackwood’s shutout bid with 5:29 remaining. Nichushkin completed his hat trick at 16:06, putting the final nail in the Blues’ coffin.
Good: A Message Sent, But at What Cost?
MacKinnon, Makar, and Devon Toews, who all played alongside Binnington for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, witnessed his clutch performance in the Gold Medal game against Team USA. Yet, they’ve openly discussed the merits of having Blackwood or Scott Wedgewood on the Team Canada roster. Barring injury to Binnington, Logan Thompson, or Darcy Kuemper, neither Blackwood nor Wedgewood will make the cut.
Binnington’s struggles this season were on full display, allowing four goals on his first eight shots and six overall in his first game after being named to the team. Meanwhile, Blackwood, despite facing limited action, did his part to keep the Blues at bay. Message sent—but is it too late for Binnington to turn things around?
Bad: The Blues’ Identity Crisis
I vividly remember the Blues as a formidable opponent for the Avalanche last season, especially after the 4 Nations Face-Off. What happened to that team? This version of the Blues looks disjointed and uninspired. The Avalanche had ample space to generate offense, with Nichushkin and MacKinnon scoring with minimal resistance. The Blues’ forecheck was virtually nonexistent, and their transitions back to their own zone were sluggish. This isn’t just a goaltending issue—it’s systemic.
Controversial Question for You: Is the Avalanche’s dominance a testament to their greatness, or a reflection of the Blues’ collapse? And should Team Canada reconsider their goaltending choices? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
