Colorado's Surprising Start Has People Taking Notice

At the end of last season, and even coming into this season, not a lot was expected of the Colorado Avalanche.  As a matter of fact, the only place they could have gone was up.

And, there were reasons a plenty for the lack of expectations.  The loss of Ryan Smyth, the deterioration of the defensive corps, the lack of skill players with scoring potential, the loss of the ultimate Captain in Joe Sakic, and the lack, or so we thought, of a true No. 1 goalkeeper.

However, we're now 11 games in to this 2009-2010 campaign, and the Avalanche are showing sings of being a good team.  Dare I say a legitimate team?

They're atop the Western Conference, just ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, with 18 points and showing no signs of slowing down.  They're currently ranked fifth on the power play percentage with a stellar 26.7 percent success rate and they're ranked sixth in penalty kill, with a very good 84.3 percent rating.  Just for the record, that's 14 spots ahead of hated rival Detroit.

You can look at and evaluate the numbers all day and see direct indicators of what's driving this team to success.  The information is out there,  however, I think what's behind the numbers, that's not seen, is maybe more the reason for the Avs' success this season; it's the WAY they have played, period.

This team is playing a brand of hockey that no other team, at least right now, is playing.  They play incredibly tough in their defensive zones and they play very fast in the offensive zone.

The play in the defensive zone has been solid at times and not so much at other times, but when they are playing the game that Coach Sacco has preached, they're a physical team that makes sure everyone is getting hit, and I do mean everyone.  Ask Holmstrom or Zetterberg.

That type of play can create apprehension in the minds of opponents and force them to play tentatively.  As I think back to the Detroit games, that's what I saw.  A team that was not scared, but certainly playing tentatively in their offensive zone.

Offensively, they're playing so quickly and with such pace, that teams have a hard time manning them up.  Milan Hejduk looks like he's 25 again.  Wolski has finally emerged, Matt Duchene looks to be every bit the player most thought he'd be, and  Ryan O'Reilly looks like he might have been the steal of the draft.  Paul Stastny looks like he's going to settle in nicely into that top line position and Kyle Quincey has looked flat out amazing.

Oh and, it doesn’t hurt Craig Anderson has been absolutely stellar between the pipes this season, outplaying basically everyone else in the NHL at his position.

Think about that for a minute.  Anderson is outplaying Luongo, Brodeur, Kiprusoff, Fleury, Miller, and countless others.  That's obviously been a big key for this team and right now, he leads the league in wins with eight and his .936 save percentage and 2.14 GAA are among the leagues best.

All that said, I think the scheme is working to the strength of the players, which is what ultimately is making them successful.  Sacco promised a new brand of hockey; a physical, up paced, tough brand of hockey, and that's exactly what we're seeing to this point.  He's delivered upon his word.

Frankly, it's exciting to watch!

The season is still young, and while there's still over 70 games to go, there are reasons, very real reasons for optimism.  It IS too early to tell how they'll finish up or to make any conclusions about that, however, it's not to early to draw conclusions about WHAT this team is all about. 

This team is all about playing a brand of hockey that's tough to defend.  Powerful physical D, quick, fast paced O, and solid goaltending. Add to that the fact that these guys are playing as a solid unit, not as individuals, and it makes them even better looking.

The national media will not be giving much credit where it's due and to date haven't done much of that.  Mainly because there are "sexier" teams to look at in Montreal, Detroit, San Jose, Pittsburgh, Calgary, and Chicago.  But, if this team keeps playing this way, and performing the way that they have, the attention will come sooner than later.

To the Avs though, I don't know that they really care about that, nor do I think it'll matter to them once it does come.  And honestly, I don't think they'd have it any other way.  When you're playing the role the Avs are, that of the "overachiever" there's nothing sweeter than saying "told ya so" at the end.