Will The Colorado Avalanche Handle The Pressure?

2 years ago  /  Kuklas Korner

from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post,


This is the best Avalanche team in more than 20 years. But there’s at least an 80% chance this Colorado team, led by center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar, won’t lift the Stanley Cup, because nowhere in the North American sporting landscape will you find a more heavy-duty challenge.

With the playoffs rapidly approaching in a season billed as championship or bust, could somebody please give Colorado a wake-up call?

With our old friend Matt Duchene scoring the only goal in the shootout, the Nashville Predators recorded a 5-4 victory against the Avalanche on Thursday night for Colorado’s fifth loss in six games.

Chalk it up to boredom if that makes you feel better.

But is Colorado mentally tough enough to win it all?

No team in the league can boast of more top-notch talent than the Avs. They deserve to be the odds-on favorite to win the championship. So what’s the concern? There’s a cruel fascinating randomness to the NHL playoffs, where a hot goalie, the odd bounce or untimely injuries can ruin the best-laid championship plans.

There’s no sweeter agony than cheering for a team to win the Cup. No NHL champion earns 16 victories without blood, sweat and tears, not to mention a moment or two of serious adversity capable of unnerving the toughest of competitors. And these Colorado players have yet to prove they won’t fold under pressure.


continued...

Read Full Article.