Denver, Co. – Anyone who talked to the team after last night’s game will tell you that this game was not the best hockey that Colorado’s ever played. Even spectators can point out that the team looked off, which is to be expected after playing a hard-fought battle against the Ottawa Senators the night before.
Chicago came ready to play from the moment the puck dropped. The effort was to be expected after frustrating losses in four straight games. Colorado on the other hand looked like they were on the latter half of a back-to-back and came up short for most of the game.
Injury Plagues the Avalanche Once Again
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton will “miss some time,” per Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. He made sure to tell the media that he’d have a better update for us on how long we can expect to see Colton out on Wednesday morning.
Bednar said in the post-game presser that the forward wasn’t quite the same after a shot taken in the first period. Colton played in the second period, but ultimately went back to the locker room after his last shift ended at the 17:45 minute mark of the second period. He did not come back out for the third.
This is not Colton’s first injury of the season. He took a slash to the hand during a 5-1 win over Utah Hockey Club last week on October 24th. Despite missing practice the next day, he was cleared for Sunday’s game against the Senators.
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The 28-year-old forward is currently among NHL leaders in goals with 8. He trails only Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils) and Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens), and sits in a four-way tie with Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers), and 2023-24 Hart Finalist Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Chicago Comes Out On Top
Despite goals from Nathan MacKinnon on the power play and Casey Mittelstadt, Bednar mentioned that the team’s offensive production was not at all what it should have been. Chicago looked much more dangerous throughout the game, only overshadowed by Colorado’s skill during parts of the second and the end of the third.
Right winger Philipp Kurashev got the Blackhawks started with a power play goal from the point. This came after Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard went to the penalty box for a two-minute holding minor against Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato.
Lukas Reichel…