The Colorado Avalanche have been an interesting follow thus far this season. Whether it's been the uncharacteristically slow start for the special team, the influx of injuries to key players or just a general malaise surrounding the team, Colorado's first 14 games have been quite a ride.

Despite it all, the Avs are riding a season-long four game winning streak in which they've looked every bit as advertised. Special teams are piping hot, the stars are shining brightly and the role players are rolling.

Since it's been a bit since my last blog (packing and moving to a new state) I thought I'd play catch up and bring everybody up to speed with a fun top 10 list.

So here goes... The Top 10 Things I've Learned About The Avalanche During This Winning Streak:

1. Jared Bednar is the right guy to lead this team. The coach has a lot of pressure on him to take this group to the promised land. The ride may be a bumpy one but he's just the man to smooth it all out. hence the reason the club rewarded him with a contract extension that carries him through the 2023-24 season.

2. Mikko Rantanen is just one of the stars shining the brightest in Nathan MacKinnon's absence. In the four games since Mac's injury, Rantanen has three goals and four assists. Two of his goals came on the power play.

3. Nazem Kadri remains a man on a mission with something to prove. Kadri leads the Avs' in points with 19 (5g 14a) and is getting better with every game. He's on an eight-game point streak (4g 11a). Kadri's collected two of more points in half on those games with seven points coming with the man advantage. Like I said, man on a mission.

4. Cale Makar is the elitist of the elite. That's it. That's all I have,

5. Darcy Kuemper is finally getting comfortable with his new team. Kuemper is 4-0 with a .930 save percentage in his last four starts. This is what I thought we were getting when the Avs' traded for him. It's finally coming to fruition.

6. Logan O'Connor has been a breath of fresh air especially on the penalty kill. He's using his speed to create offensive even while a man down. His shorthanded goal against San Jose was a thing of beauty. The set up to Darren Helm was even better.

7. Cale Makar, Sam Girard and Devon Toews are a three-headed monster on the back end. And just wait until a healthy Bowen Byram gets back in the lineup. Nightmare fuel for opposing forwards and goalies alike.

8. How about Andre Burakovsky? The 26-year-old has points in six of the last seven games (5g 3a). He's currently on pace for career highs in goals and points. Just another weapon in the arsenal.

9. The power play is back with eight power play goals in the last four games. They have been dynamic, confident and electric. This is bad news for the rest of the league.

10. The Avs' have played just 14 games - at least three games less than any other team in the Central. They've played four less game than first place Minnesota and only trail them by eight points. Colorado is back in the hunt. Was it ever really in doubt?

The Avs' next game is potentially Monday against the Senators. TBD

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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