The Colorado Avalanche are as close to a ‘cup or bust’ team as you’ll see.
They got their guy in Nazem Kadri, look like Presidents Trophy and Central Division winners, and have a litany of players who have or will set career highs, including some unexpected achievements— looking at you, Parker Kelly.
Captain Gabe Landeskog is back, Nathan MacKinnon somehow keeps getting better, Martin Necas has proved plenty capable, and Cale Makar (although banged up) is still the top dog defender.
The goalkeeping-by-committee
approach has obviously worked during the regular season.
Still, after some shaky starts from Blackwood and unfortunate outcomes, some pundits and fans are calling for head coach Jared Bednar to pick a guy heading into the playoffs.
The winningest Boston Bruins team ever is the best and among the most clearly comparable case studies to look to now that these questions have begun in the press room at Ball Arena.
What can we learn?
Well, perhaps don’t give in to the pressure and stick to your guns.
A Common Threat
The 2022-23 Bruins team and this year’s Avalanche club have a lot in common.
They both have a win over every NHL team in their respective seasons.
They both have a balance of depth and superstar/young talent.
Both went with a by-committee goaltending approach to achieve that regular-season success.
Both positioned themselves firmly as the clear cup favorite as the calendar turned to April.
Unexpected Outcome
So how’d did the winningest (regular-season) team ever finish?
A Bruins team that lost only 12 games in regulation over 7 months and all 82 regular-season games lost four games in 13 days to the Florida Panthers and didn’t even play in May.
Did they stick with the goalie by committee come playoff time?
Nope, they started Ullmark in 6 of 7 games, with game 7 going to Swayman.
Beasts of Burden
I think it’s relatively common knowledge that humans are creatures of habit.
Now, enter a human who’s decided to play goalie in the NHL, and you have some of the most routine-oriented, borderline obsessive creatures of habit ever to have walked this planet.
Why?
Because, as my dad told me growing up, half of what it means to be a great goalie happens in the six inches between their ears.
The mentality and confidence of a goaltender are qualities to be fostered and nurtured, and the approach we are seeing right now has brought out the best in Wedgewood and allowed Blackwood to get back to form at a slower, more comfortable pace.
Imagine if the Avalanche didn’t have an option like Wedgewood.
Not having your starter for training camp and the first three weeks of the regular season usually isn’t the start of a story about a historically successful regular-season team.
I’d argue that’s why we’ve seen these two goalies grow close in their short stay so far in Colorado. The two netminders have each other’s back and don’t seem to have any issue with the current approach.
We know it typically takes two goalies to win a cup, and Colorado right now has the league’s best goalie by SV% in Scott Wedgewood and a fail-safe that proved (to end last season) to be a bona fide starter in MacKenzie Blackwood.
Does losing to the league’s worst team, the Vancouver Canucks, by a score of 8-6, pain the eyes?
Absolutely.
Is it reason to pull the plug on what’s gotten you to the top of the NHL and positioned you for a deep cup run?
Let us know what you think in the comments!
