Do you believe in miracles? Ok so the Avs clinching a playoff berth is anything but a miracle, but for a team that was projected to once again finish in the cellar of the Western Conference, a playoff berth is huge. Last night’s news was just too big for me to wait till Friday for a post, but don’t worry I’ll have one on Friday as well. Yet just as it seemed everything was going wrong for the Avs, on the brink of falling out of the playoffs, they were able to pull things together and punch themselves a ticket into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After losing to the Flames 2-1 last Friday, it seemed that the Avs’ playoffs hope were quickly disappearing as both the Avs and Flames were tied for the 8th spot with 89 points each. Although the Avs still held a game in hand against the Flames, they faced a very daunting last 5 games with 4 of those 5 against playoff bound teams. With Calgary losing Sunday to the Blackhawks, it gave the Avs a chance to gain ground with a win, but they were going into a game with the conference leading San Jose Sharks. The game started badly as the Sharks took a quick 2-0 lead, but the scrappy Avs clawed their way back to a 4-2 lead and would eventually go into OT where Defenseman John-Michael Liles would seal the victory with his goal in OT against Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabakov. With this win the Avs went up 91-89 on the Flames in terms of points in the race for the last playoff spot in the West. Unfortunately Peter Mueller, who has been on a tear since being acquired by the Avs from Phoenix, was lost during the win against San Jose and will be out indefinitely with a concussion, but the hope is that he will be ready for the playoffs, which start in a about week.
Following their win against the Sharks, the Avs geared up for a late showdown with the division leading Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver. The Avs went into the game with the knowledge that if they won this game, coupled with a Calgary loss to the Sharks that night, then the last playoff berth would be theirs. With the goal of clinching a berth in their heads the Avs never trailed the Canucks in the game, but as in the game before, extra time would be required to settle this game. Before heading into the OT period with the score at 3′s a piece, the Avs learned that Calgary had just fallen to the Sharks 2-1 in Calgary. Already guaranteed a point because the game had gone into OT, the Avs were already 3 points up on the Flames, yet this was not good enough for them as they wanted the 2nd point and the win against the Canucks to ensure them a playoff spot. The OT period was a crazy one with both teams having great opportunities to score a game winning goal, including break aways for both teams in the final minute with the last coming from rookie Matt Duchene as his shot was saved by goalie Roberto Luongo as the OT horn blared signifying the end of the period. Extra time would not be enough for the Avs to clinch a playoff spot, so a shoot out would be needed to declare a winner. Although I would have to follow the shoot out on the radio, as I was in my car driving back from work, let me just tell you I’ve never been so nervous and excited listening to a game. The radio announcer’s tone and excitement during every shot was enough to get me going in my car as I shouted in excitement every time Anderson made a save, and bellowed in disappointment as Luongo made saves as well. In the end it would come down to rookie Matt Duchene to either end the shoot out with a goal and propel the Avs into the playoffs, or keep the shoot out going. Every Avs fan’s heart, including mine, pounded as Matty Duch began his rush towards the net, and with a little quick deke to his forehand the puck found its way past Luongo and into the top left corner, sealing the win and a playoff berth as he was swarmed on by his jubilated team mates.
I couldn’t be any more excited, not just because we are back in the playoffs, but because we were able to shut up the experts that gave the Avs no hope this year and projected finishing not just last in the Western Conference, but in the cellar of the NHL. Although the Avs still have 3 more games left against Edmonton, Chicago, and Los Angeles, their playoff fates are pretty much sealed with their first round opponent likely to be the 1st place Sharks, although a match-up with the Chicago Blackhawks is also very possible. Good job Avies, and lets carry this momentum not just through the last 3 games, but into the post season where they will have to bring their all if they wish to go far.
Leave a Comment
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
