Mmmm...Fish Sticks

These very special Game Five Five Thoughts are brought to you by the Long John Silver’s Catfish Fish Stick Hockey Stick platter with a bitter Distinct Kicking Motion sauce. Are you ready to get kicked, Nashville?

1. HAMBURGLED!

Raise your hand if you saw that one coming. Really? I mean really?! Andrew Hammond has seen more Tim Horton’s in his year than NHL hockey and he uncorked a whopper against a Preds team that had home ice, confidence, and every reason to win. 

Even better, that was pretty clean work by Hammy. Great rebound control, excellent coverage on the angles, and all the kick saves a growing body needs. Somebody has been doing his XYZ drills. 

Good goalie. Pet the goalie. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GHhD4PD75zY

2.  NATHAN MACKINNON IS THE BUDDHA!

I know dedicated Buddhists who would have shot that puck. Luke Skywalker would have shot that puck. Gandhi would have shot that puck. EVERYBODY would have shot that puck! 

Not Mack. He hovers. 

Just who does he think he is?! Your next Hart trophy winner, that’s who he is. 

3. I can’t see too well. Is that number 37 a young Chris Drury with the saucer pass to Andrighetto for the win?! 

Sakes. I just can’t even.

4. So I was thinking today, “ya know who’s missing in the playoffs this year? Detroit.”

Bahahahaha!

5. Whew! We get at least one more ride on this roller coaster. I’d like to see a game seven. This Avs team deserves a game seven. 

GO AVS!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Five thoughts on Game Three

1. SHIZZLE!

Raise your hand if you saw the Avs chasing Rinne while controlling large portions of the game. 

(Crickets)

Things that would concern me if I was a Preds fan? That. Cup winners don’t get their goalie chased in the first round against the eighth seed. Furthermore, Cup winners also don’t spend the majority of a game cheap shotting the eighth seed in an attempt to goad them into taking penalties. 

Even worse? The NBC announcers advocating that the Predators cheap shot the Avs. What is this the Federal League? If that’s the case I’m buying the Avs a palette of foil so they can take turns punching P.K. Subban in the back of the head. 

2. Big money cornerstone Avalanche players in the last five years who wanted out:

Ryan O’Reilly, Paul Stastny, and Matt Duchene. 

Playoff games by former big money cornerstone Avalanche players this year: 

Three (Stastny)

Former big money cornerstone Avalanche players who are stuck on rebuilding teams: The other two guys. 

Shrewd, gentlemen. Shrewd. 

3. Gatorade Flow commercial: ...Gatorade with a smooth finish.

Me: What is it, vodka?

Tamara (hockey wife): I hope so!

4. I know Mack was electric and Landy did outstanding Captain things but Patrik Nemeth should get an extra steak at the team dinner.  If he wasn’t blocking shots he was playing smart and stifling Nashville. It is games like this that get you into the Shjon Podein Avs Grinder Hall of Fame. 

5. I don’t care how they do it but the squad must bring the energy again in the next game. They will not win a trench war with Nashville but the boys might have a chance if they out run them.  Feisty play will always create opportunities especially when used against entitled teams that take penalties. 

Giddyup!

So, That Happened

Five thoughts on Game 2:

1. Alrighty! Nate scored two 

and the Avs gave away two to a team that should have scored eight but merely scored five. Progress? Progress. 

Bear in mind this was an away game and any Avs defenseman not named Zadorov spent the night getting re-acquainted with the fine art of the hip check:

2. https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/l/forsberg-sets-tone-with-massive-hit-on-siemens/vp-AAvSWLX

I’ll always remember the part where Siemens’ head snaps back like he got kicked in the face by an eagle. 

3. Wife: His name is really Duncan Siemens?

Me (Smirking): Yes. 

Announcer: Duncan Siemens and Forsberg come together in the corner. 

Me (Snicker)

4. #ryanhartmanemptynetgoalmakesaaronangry

5. Okay, okay. So NBC said Avs are starting thirty-seven rookies in the playoffs who have played a combined 4-1/3 playoff games (#truefact). For them to stand in with Nashville says a lot about the character and chemistry of the squad. Who knows, if Bernier doesn’t move on to a beer league mid-series the kids may just win a game. 

On to Denver and the best single season home record of any Avalanche squad. Here’s to altitude!