Colorado Avalanche Hoping To Make It 12 of 13

Colorado Avalanche fans can remember all to well missing out of the 2006-7 Stanley Cup playoffs by only one point. They had made eleven straight post season appearances previous to the 06-07 season, and during those eleven seasons, they managed to pick up two Stanley Cups.

After an impressive 15-2-2 run to close out the season, and miss the playoffs by that one point was perhaps one of the most disappointing events that the Avalanche organization has faced in its twelve season career. They hope to make it back to the post season this year, making 12 post season appearances in the 13 seasons the organization has existed.

 This year however, the team has no intention of falling short again. The Avalanche were very impressive at the trade deadline picking up two former players Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, both of who are expected to be in the line up Friday to close out the season against the surging Oilers, who have taken 12 of their last 16 decisions. In addition to the return of those big names, the Avalanche also picked up Ruslan Salei who was been a major presence on the defensive corps. of the Colorado Avalanche. It seems that they were picking up those names for their playoff run.

With just four games remaining (Edmonton, Vancouver and Minnesota twice) in the Avalanche regular season, the Avalanche have picked a good time to begin what looks like a hot streak. It was just under a week ago when the Avalanche were riding a four game winless streak, but after that they picked up four major points obtaining a shutout against the hard hitting Flames, and having a strong offensive surge with a 6-goal game against the Canucks, with Peter Forsberg leading the way picking up three assists in that game. Continued play like this would all but guarantee them a post season berth. In fact, with a win tonight, the surging Oilers could not catch up to the Avalanche mathematically.

Really, the only argument that people have against Colorado missing the post season for the second time in a row is because of the Nashville Predators, who have a realtively simple schedule with two games against the cold Blues. However, the Avalanche all shake this off, claiming that a hurt Canucks team will be the team that falls out of contention. With Brendan Morrison out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, and Roberto Luongo away in Florida expecting the birth of his first child and being questionable for the game against Minnesota Friday night, the hopes of the Canucks are relatively slim.

Right now, as long as the Avalanche take a few more decisions, they not only hope to make the post season, but take first place in the Northwest.
After that, they, like 16 other teams, will work hard to win the Stanley Cup.