Colorado has some work to do this season against teams out East.
We are now less than one month away from the start of hockey season! The Colorado Avalanche will now start preparations for the season, and it comes with getting a read on every team and opponent they’ll face this year.
In the Metropolitan Division, there are some heavy hitters and almost all of them have been in the hunt for the playoffs the past few seasons. How did the Avs fare against them last season and when will they play this year?
Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Rangers
The reigning Presidents Trophy winners in the Big Apple also took care of business last time out against Colorado. The Rangers won both matchups last season, with both games needing to go beyond the 60 minutes. Most recently, New York beat the Avs in a shootout 3-2 on March 28.
It’s always fun to watch whenever these two play, especially with the history Alexandar Georgiev has against his old club. He’ll face the Rangers at home on January 14 and then at Madison Square Garden on January 26.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes
What is always deemed a Stanley Cup Final preview every year, the Avs and Canes also always have good games against one another. They split their two games last season, with the last game going in Carolina’s favor on February 8 in Raleigh, winning 5-2 thanks to a Martin Necas hat trick.
The Canes are looking to go one step further to top the division and eventually be a true threat for the Stanley Cup. They’ll have to go through Colorado once again, November 9 in Denver and December 5 in Raleigh.
Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Islanders
For the first time in this article, the Avs finally won the last time they played this division! It was against the New York Islanders, barely beating them 5-4 in overtime thanks to a Nathan MacKinnon power-play overtime goal on January 2.
The Isles always seem to be in contention for the postseason, just doing enough to stick around and take advantage. After losing both games to Colorado last year, they’ll look to change those results on October 14 in Denver and January 28 on Long Island.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals
Another team the Avs beat twice last year! Alex Ovechkin and the Caps weren’t themselves last year, barely sneaking into the final playoff spot only to be demolished by the Rangers. It was the same against Colorado, losing last on February 13 in DC by the final score of 6-3.
With Ovechkin still chasing the scoring record held by Wayne Gretzky, it is overshadowing the state of the Capitals being far from what they were six years ago as Stanley Cup Champions. They’ll play the Avs twice in six days, November 15 at Ball Arena and November 21 in the nation’s capital, looking for different results from last season.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
It was a phenomenal game the last time Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby played each other. Down 4-0, the Avalanche roared back with Johnathan Drouin scoring the overtime winner to secure an improbable 5-4 comeback win on March 24.
That game may have just been a killer for the Pens season, as they missed out on the postseason for the second straight year by three points. While Avs fans have to wait for who knows how long before Sidney Crosby wears the ‘A’ in Colorado, if ever, they’ll get to see him twice against MacKinnon. Those games will come on December 10 in the Steel City and March 4 in Denver.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Philly started hot and then fell back to Earth at the end of last season as they tumbled out of the playoffs. They did split the season series with the Avs though, but lost in their own barn 7-4 to Colorado on January 20.
The Flyers will be looking to avenge last season and finish the job this time around. Once again, they’ll have to go through the Avalanche – on November 18 in Philadelphia and on February 3 in Denver.
Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils
New Jersey had nothing short of horrible injury luck year, tumbling them to finish seventh in the division last year just a year out from defeating the Rangers in the playoffs. However, they did get the last laugh over Colorado last year in a 5-3 win on February 6 at The Rock.
The Devils have the talent, it’s just a matter of putting it all together and staying healthy. It’s a team the Avs shouldn’t look over, and play hard against. These two will play on December 8 in New Jersey and February 26 in the Mile High City.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Finally, the Columbus Blue Jackets bring up the rear of the Metro Division from last season. However, they did manage an upset over the Avalanche in a rough stretch to end last season for both teams, fooling Colorado 4-1 in its own barn on April Fools Day.
Some changes to the team included Patrik Laine’s move to the Montreal Canadiens. But on a significantly larger scale, the devastating death of Johnny Gaudreau has hit the hockey world hard, and yet another player death the Columbus organization and its fans have to reel with. It’s completely understandable if the focus for this year is off the ice in mourning the loss of one of the great modern players in the game and supporting his family.
There will still be hockey played between these two teams. Its games against the Avalanche are very spread apart, which includes the Avs’ Home Opener on October 12 and then back in Columbus on April 3.