hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
9-1-1: Rocky Mountains
The NHL has reached the penultimate day of March, and for the Colorado Avalanche, the month ends. Coming off a home loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Avs remained at home against another Canadian franchise: the Calgary Flames. Oh boy. The Flames are a mess. Four years ago, this team finished first in the Pacific and reached the second round. What followed was the team losing so many relevant players, including watching one of them win a Stanley Cup--twice. The Flames are in total hell, but they'll at least draft early. So there's that.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout 6 hours ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: Step by Step, Inch by Inch
We're really down to the wire here, hockey fans! We are Joe Sakic days away from the end of the regular season! Nineteen days! It seems like yesterday that the Olympic Break happened. It seemed like yesterday that the month of March began and I wrote the first piece of the home stretch. That was four weeks ago! We are at the end of March, and April is coming. We are at the point where the numbers get thinned out. We already have a pair of eliminations.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsa day ago in Unbalanced
Zebras Run Amok
The Colorado Avalanche have been on a roll in the last week; having won four in a row and running away in the Central Division. Our latest win was in Winnipeg against the Jets, and on a Saturday that saw all but two teams playing, the Avs faced off against the same Jets, this time in the confines of Ball Arena. Prior to our game, a funny thing happened: the Dallas Stars actually won a game. Dallas defeated a Pittsburgh Penguins team that played without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and they still had to come from behind. That tells me that they still have problems.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 days ago in Unbalanced
Zooming Away
The Colorado Avalanche have been picking up wins left and right lately, and this is a right time to do it. When it comes to the home stretch, especially this late in it, the focus is often on the teams in the middle of the pack who really need the wins and points, and it should be. But the teams on top do need the wins as well. Even if you're in a very cushy spot, you want to keep that momentum up. You want to keep the foot on the gas. You do not want to let up. I've seen teams eliminated early in the playoffs because they got too relaxed at the end and forgot how to turn it back up to their normal level.
By Clyde E. Dawkins4 days ago in Unbalanced
What's Good for the Goose
The Colorado Avalanche's first meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins was one to forget. A 7-2 drubbing on March 16, definitely not one of our finest moments. Nine days after that meeting, the Avs and Penguins meet again, this time in the Steel City, and this time, Sidney Crosby was in action. So they have someone back. Well, so do we. Ross Colton returned to action for the Avs, and Logan O'Connor suited up for the very first time this season.
By Clyde E. Dawkins6 days ago in Unbalanced
Stars Return to Playoffs, but the Window is Starting to Close
On March 20, 2026, the Colorado Avalanche became the first team to lock in a spot in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now obviously, we would not be alone. It's a 16-team tournament, the ultimate Sweet 16 in sports (with all due respect to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament). So who would be the second team with a shot to get it? The Dallas Stars. Of course it's Dallas. They've racked up quite the point total due to the big streak they've been on, and they entered this Sunday with a chance to get into the big dance.
By Clyde E. Dawkins8 days ago in Unbalanced
The Shot That Matters
The month of March enters the final 10 days, and the Colorado Avalanche have already racked up 100 points in the standings for the fifth straight season, which is a franchise record. In addition, the Avs locked up a playoff spot on Friday with our win over the Blackhawks. Our job is definitely not done. We still have to create some distance from the Dallas Stars, as we entered this day only three points ahead of Dallas in not only the Central, but in the entire league.
By Clyde E. Dawkins8 days ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: Spring Has Sprung
The 2025-26 NHL season has now entered the spring season, and that's the season were things get important. We are now down to the final 26 days of the NHL season, less than a month, less than four weeks. The races get intense around this time, and regarding certain areas, it's getting very, very tight! Logjams are pretty much everywhere. So many teams have chances for something. Flip-flops are still happening, a lot of them in the last week!
By Clyde E. Dawkins9 days ago in Unbalanced
First to 100, First to Clinch: Avalanche Reach Playoffs for Ninth Straight Year
Spring has arrived, folks! March 20, the very first day of the spring season, and we finally have a clinching scenario. Only one team could punch a ticket to the beautiful annual madness known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that team is the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs have had a few hiccups lately, but when the chips are down, we are at our best. Thanks to other outside factors that happened on the previous night, the Avs' scenario is a very simple one. One point and we're in. That's it.
By Clyde E. Dawkins10 days ago in Unbalanced
Neck and Neck
Wednesday, March 18, 2026. That date was special to me for two reasons. One, it was my 41st birthday. Two, the Colorado Avalanche were playing, and not just against anyone. We hosted the Dallas Stars. The two teams who were ranked one-two in not only the Central Division, but the entire National Hockey League, faced off in Denver's Ball Arena. The division had been too close for comfort lately, thanks to the Stars going fifteen games without losing in regulation, though that did end on Monday against Utah.
By Clyde E. Dawkins11 days ago in Unbalanced
Thank You, Utah Mammoth
I have been timely with the Colorado Avalanche recaps lately, but there are a few reasons why I'm a tad late with this one. For one, I was focused on the World Baseball Classic coming to a close. Also, the NCAA Tournament was kicking off. And, I was looking ahead to Wednesday, which is not only my birthday, but also our big game against the Dallas Stars. Which leads me to another reason for the lateness: I kinda want to forget this game actually happened.
By Clyde E. Dawkins13 days ago in Unbalanced
Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: Too Close for Comfort
We are now down to the final 33 days of the 2025-26 NHL season. 33 days. Barely over a month. And this week will be a chaotic one in the sports world. The big dance will start on the 17th with the First Four. That same day, the World Baseball Classic will crown a champion (a new one due to Japan being eliminated already), and the Stanley Cup and NBA playoff races will get tighter and tighter. The NBA races will be another story, but regarding the subject at hand: oh man!
By Clyde E. Dawkins16 days ago in Unbalanced
