Colorado Avalanche's Missing Identity

With a shortened season, every game is crucial. Finding a team identity early on is essential to ensuring a play-off spot. The season record, so far, shows that a clear identity is one thing missing in Colorado.

Wednesday night against Anaheim was a clear example of this.  The Avalanche almost doubled Anaheim's number of shots on goals (31-20), but none of them went in the net. Forward Matt Duchene, with 4 of the shots, noted that this kind of playing is,"unacceptable," and that the team needs to start making a plays.

The Ducks were 6-1-1 going into Denver, so we knew a win was going to be a challenge.  I was in attendance, at the Pepsi Center, Wednesday night.  For the entire game, there were no players down by the net, trying to set up the play; no one to feed it to.  Most of the shots made, were two on three; we couldn't get anything through their defense.

At one point in the night, a fan next to me started chanting, "sign O'Reilly." It is clear to the fans in Colorado, that a void has been created with the absence of one of the essential forwards from the 2011-2012 season.
The void is growing ever bigger with captain Gabriel Landeskog temporarily out and Forward Steve Downie out for the season.

Many players are trying to step up, fill the void, and help to create a team identity.  Avalanche center, John Mitchell, is one of these players.  With 4 goals and 3 assists on the season, not to mention the pucks he's blocked with his face, Mitchell is clearly helping to fill the void.  Joe Sacco noted on Jamie McGinn as well. McGinn is becoming an essential part of the line with Matt Duchene and P.A. Parenteau.

With the exception of Anaheim, who has had an amazing start to this season, every team is still a work in progress at this point in the season. The Avalanche are still playing in a pre-season mode.  If Joe Sacco and the Avalanche want to identify as a, "team who plays fast," they need to snap out if it, and fast.

For the full postgame interview with Matt Duchene: Click Here
For the full pregame interview with Coach, Joe Sacco: Click Here