Avalanche Game 37 Recap: Ending 2023 in Style

2023 was quite the year for the Colorado Avalanche. When the calendar year began, the Avalanche were the reigning, defending, undisputed Stanley Cup Champions. It was a calendar year that saw Nathan MacKinnon pick up his very first 100-point season. It was a calendar year that saw Mikko Rantanen finish a 50+ goal season, and also rack up 100 points. Now, unfortunately, it was a year that saw the Avalanche's attempt at a repeat come to an abrupt end. But it would also be a year that the Avalanche would begin the process of dusting ourselves off, and try, try again.

The quest continued in the final day of the year, with the Avalanche hosting the San Jose Sharks for the last time this season. Now, I have to confess something. My attention that night was mostly directed towards another sport: the Packers/Vikings game on NBC. However, I did watch this game as well, and it was quite a contest.

Alexandar Georgiev was in net against Kaapo Kahkonen, and this game was, well, over for the Sharks when it started. Avs dominated in shots all the way. First PP went to Colorado, and it cashed in. Mikko Rantanen's 19th came at 6:58, with the assists coming from Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin. For MacKinnon, that's a point in 20 of his last 21 games. 1-0 was the score after 20 minutes, and the second period was a bit more spirited. Penalties and all sorts of bad behavior left and right from both teams; reminds me of two decades ago when these teams were kicking ass.

Anyway, the power plays were handed out like Oprah handing out cars, and it was San Jose's who struck in the 2nd period. Tomas Hertl's 13th of the season tied it up, and I want to take off my Avs glasses a bit and talk about Hertl. I'm a big fan of Hertl. I feel so sorry for him. Here is a good, talented young player--drafted in the same year as MacKinnon, yet he's stuck in a bad situation with a Sharks team that is going nowhere. 2016 was the team's best chance. They went to the Cup Final, they fell short, that's hockey. Unfortunately, it's been downhill from there. Hertl's not getting out of there anytime soon, because that contract extension barely kicked in. So he's in there for the long haul.

3rd period started with the game tied at 1 and the Avs continued to dominate on shots. Despite this, the 1-1 score was holding and it kinda looked like OT would happen. Then at 16:31, Nichushkin scored from Jack Johnson and MacKinnon, and there was the lead back. Kahkonen was pulled deep into a four on four situation, so it was technically five on four for the Sharks. It became six on four when Anthony Duclair's penalty ended, yet Josh Manson would shoot it into the empty net. A shorthanded empty netter to ice it.

The Avalanche won, 3-1, to remain in first place after the final day of 2023. This game was too easy. I know the Sharks aren't very good this season, but I've seen them put up fights in games. Hell, the first meeting of the season is a big example. This was just a case of the Avs bullying the Sharks as only we can. Shots on goal were 33-11 in our favor. Alexandar Georgiev had the easiest win of his career: a ten-save victory. Yikes. MacKinnon's keeping pace with Kucherov for the points lead, and the Avs remain in full control of the Central Division.

The Avalanche's first game of 2024 will be a home outing against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. After that, the Avs will head to Dallas for a huge battle against the Stars on Thursday.

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