Playoff hopes for the Colorado Avalanche are deteriorating, and it isn't even April. It's not because the team won't make the top eight in the Western Conference. Not because they don't have the talent or drive to win, either. It's thanks to injuries that the Avs will struggle in the playoffs.
In the final stretch of the regular season, the Avs have suffered some major blows, and it will cost the team dearly.
Prior to a shoulder injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season, Marek Svatos led the Avs in goals (32) and was competing against NHL standouts Alex Ovechkin (Wash.) and Sidney Crosby (Pitt.) for top rookie honors. Losing such a talented player would have a negative effect on any offense. Unfortunately, the situation is even worse for the Avs.
Now the Avalanche have lost Alex Tanguay for two to four weeks. His collision with San Jose forward Ville Nieminen resulted in a knee sprain on March 19. Like Svatos, Tanguay is an offensive powerhouse — he currently leads the Avalanche with 74 points, including 26 goals. The loss of these guys leaves the Avalanche offense in serious trouble — to put it mildly.
Or does it? Monday night's dethroning of the L.A. Kings showed otherwise. Joe Sakic set the tempo of the game and scored twice, while assisting on goals from Ian Laperriere and Andrew Brunette. Antti Laaksonen added another goal midway into the third period, resulting in a 5-0 shutout.
Reality hit on Wednesday, however, when the Avalanche lost to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in overtime. The Avs led 3-1 early, but the Ducks rebounded and tied it 4-4 in the third. Jonathan Hedstrom scored the winning goal for the Ducks.
Before their loss to Anaheim, the Avalanche were on their way to sweeping a West Coast road trip. Had they done it, the injuries to Colorado's roster would have looked much less sinister. Now, after giving up a solid lead and a game they should have won, the impact of the void left by Tanguay and Svatos is apparent.
When in a slump, the Avs count on Tanguay to spark things up. He forms plays, creates scoring chances, and invigorates his teammates. When a team loses intensity, as the Avs did Wednesday night, players like Tanguay turn things around.
Marek Svatos is a goal-scoring powerhouse. His speed, skill, and eye will draw comparisons to Peter Forsberg in a couple more years. 'Nuff said.
Topping it all off, the injuries to Ossi Vaananen and Steve Konowalchuk can't be ignored. Vaananen's broken leg sidelines him indefinitely — was playing at a team best +10 before February 2. Steve Konowalchuk injured his wrist on November 21. He posted 15 points in 21 games, the best start of his career. He remains on the injured reserve and isn't expected to return this season.
Colorado currently sits pretty in the fifth Western Conference slot, but that could easily change in 12 games' time. This final stretch is all against Western Conference rivals, most of which are vying for a playoff spot. The Avalanche need every point, and that means shooting pucks in the net to win. Slumps like Wednesday's against Anaheim cannot happen. Shutouts such as the one against L.A. would be nice on a nightly basis, but aren't realistic.
What Colorado needs is consistency. Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk must take the initiative and keep the puck in the other team's zone. Players like Ian Laperriere and Antti Laaksonen will be expected to post impressive numbers because they are capable of doing so. The defense must be solid, and so must the goaltending.
The Avs need to play like they're in the playoffs starting now. If they don't, their postseason run might as well end before it's begun.
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