The Colorado Avalanche: A Midseason Breakdown

Heading into this weekend's All-Star break in Atlanta, the Colorado Avalanche have compiled 26 wins, 19 losses, and 4 losses, post regulation, for a total of 56 points through 49 contests.

The story of this team can be summed up like this: Whenever the Avs seem to get magic rolling their way, something sneaks up behind them and crushes their momentum.

For instance, they found solid goaltending in Peter Budaj, which led to a series of impressive wins, along with more consistancy as a road team; but a devestating, possibly career ending-injury was sustained by their captain, Joe Sakic, and saw their momentum sputter.

Then, the Avs found chemistry in a line centered by Paul Stastny combined with an impressive compilation of points by wingers Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk. But disaster struck again when Smyth was soon after cut down by a broken foot (and is projected to be sidelined for another 8-10 weeks).

Next, with a bit of a faulter from Peter Budaj, back-up Jose Theodore grabs control of the starter position in 2008. He then backstops Colorado to a 5-3-1 record, posting their first shut out of the season in a victory over Tampa Bay.

With this Vezina winner's new life, it seemed that things were salvagable, but the hockey gods decided they didn't deserve the reprieve.

In a freak illness, Stastny is diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent apendectomy surgery to correct it. He'll be out for another two weeks.

Despite all these problems, there are many positives for this highly talented, though snakebitten, Colorado Avalanche franchise. After all, they are still holding onto a playoff spot in the tightly squeezed Western Conference. And if that wasn't enough optimism for the team, they can also consider that they are barely out of a division lead, which would put them into third place in the fluid Western Conference standings.

Also, bright spots like Marek Svatos, Jaroslav Hlinka, and T.J. Hensick, who entered the season with high expectations, have been able to produce with the additional responsibility, and provided the Avalanche with high hopes for a positive second half and a strong playoff push. These three forwards are, and will have to continue to significantly contribute to keeping the Avs afloat while the big guns are recovering.

The Avs have also made some depth decisions recently, and have acquired two minor league prospects from the Blue Jackets. Winger Phillippe Dupuis may appear in at least one game before the season is over, and Darcy Campbell adds depth to their minor league defensive core. The Avs received both prospects for forward Mark Rycroft, who was up and down with the club, and will be a UFA this summer.

Though the future holds uncertainty for the franchise this season, all Colorado may have to do is hold on to the young talent that remains, hope that the All-Star break will give rest to the overly burdened bunch of talent, and get back some of their injured stars, and, who knows, maybe this Avalanche club can make a serious push in the playoffs.

With 33 games left in the season, hope is far from lost.