Colorado Avalanche…King of the Mountains

As we approach Christmas it is becoming more and more apparent that the Colorado Avalanche are indeed for real. Picked to once again miss the playoffs this rebuilding team defeated the Calgary Flames 3-2 at home on Sunday night to take sole procession of first place in the Northwest Division. What’s so amazing about all this is that last year the Avalanche finished dead last in the Western Conference basement. “We’re 35 games into the schedule now and we’re on top of our division for a reason,” Avs rookie coach Joe Sacco said. “We work hard, there’s lots of energy in our game and the guys believe in the locker room. They believe that we can win the division, and that’s our ultimate goal, to be on top of our division.”  Colorado who are now 3-0 against the Flames this year took control in the second period in taking a 2-0 lead on goals from Wojtek Wolski and Chris Stewart. Late in the second with the Avs lead cut in half veteran grinder Darcy Tucker who missed some time due to a concussion scored his first goal since October 21 at Minnesota against the Wild. Mark Giodano scored Calgary’s second goal. “I thought tonight’s game was a very, very important game,” Flames coach Brent Sutter said. “But obviously it was just the coaches who thought that. It’s a tough league to be average in.” Expect a more complete game for the Flames on Tuesday when the are in St. Louis to take on the Blues.