DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche lost to Carolina in a shootout at home in late October.
Since then, they haven’t lost on their home court, winning 17 straight games. The Avalanche only needs a home win to tie the franchise record set by the 2021-22 Stanley Cup champions.
advertise
Perhaps that’s the benefit of playing at an altitude of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters). Maybe it was the noise of the crowd. Or, as defender Karl Makar believes, the secret to their home success comes down to something simpler: “Don’t talk about it,” he said with a laugh.
Colorado is 2-0 in seven home games and currently has the sixth-longest home winning streak in NHL history. The record was held for the 23rd consecutive time by the Detroit Red Wings during the 2011-12 season.
On top of that, the Avalanche (19-0-2) have yet to lose at Ball Arena during the regular season. Their 21-game home winning streak ranks second in franchise history, trailing only the 2021-22 team (22).
“The big thing is we’re a stingy team at home,” said Makar, whose team has a chance to tie the franchise record Monday night against Toronto. “The team has to know that when they come here they are going to give their best and it’s going to be a tough challenge for them.”
advertise
Playing at higher altitudes can be exhausting for your opponents. Especially a team coming in on the second night of a back-to-back, like Ottawa played last Thursday. The speedy Avalanche picked up the pace and defeated the Senators 8-2.
Colorado could grind it out, too. That’s what the team did on Saturday against Columbus when the top line, led by Nathan MacKinnon, was held scoreless. Defender Brent Burns, 40, who is chasing his first Stanley Cup title, scored two goals. Also playing an important role was backup goaltender Trent Miner, who stopped 29 shots in the 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets. Not only was this Miner’s first big win in the NHL;
“They always seem excited about playing at home,” said Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle, who finished last season with Colorado after being acquired at the trade deadline. “You’re going to see a great game from them. It’s not going to be back and forth or anything like that. They’re playing well. They’re playing solid.”
The building is always noisy too. The Avalanche have sold out 174 consecutive home games, including the playoffs.
advertise
“We’re comfortable here,” said defender Josh Manson, who had two goals and two assists against Ottawa for a Gordie Howe hat trick. “We can get momentum behind us and it really helps when we have the support of the fans and so on. We can keep going.”
“You can make any excuse for the altitude or whatever, but you add it all up and I think it makes it a tough place to play.”
The Avalanche have the best record in the league (33-4-7, 73 points) and enter Sunday with a 12-point lead over the second-place team, which happens to be their Central Division rivals Dallas and Minnesota.
Colorado was also missing some key players, with captain Gabriel Landeskog (upper body), goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body), defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) and forward Joel Kiviranta (lower body) all out. Logan O’Connor has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.
advertise
“I’m proud of everything our team has done so far,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “But as a coach, you always ask, ‘OK, what’s next?’
“You have to prove yourself every day in this league, right? It’s never about what you do. I liked our first half, but that’s what it is – a first half. It doesn’t guarantee you anything tonight, the second half or the playoffs.”
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl