Historical Moments:
1995/96: The city of Denver had its second chance at hockey when the Nordiques moved to the Mile High City 13 years after the Rockies, who were
a perennial doormat in their 7 seasons in Colorado, bolted for New Jersey.
However, in the team that would be renamed they were getting a genuine Stanley
Cup Contender. On October 6th old McNichols Arena was jammed packed as the Avalanche
defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Already a contender the Avalanche acquired
Claude Lemieux a proven tough playoff competitor in a trade with the former
Rockies now known as the New Jersey Devils. Early on the Avs were strong posting
a 16-7-4 record in early December. However on December 6th they stole the
heart of fans in the Providence of Quebec again this time acquiring Goalie Montreal
Canadiens who had a falling out with his Coach along with Mike Keane for Andrei
Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault. The deal would of give the
Avalanche perhaps the greatest goalie of all time, and would spur the team on
to a 47-25-10 record which was the 2nd best record in the NHL. In the playoffs
the Avalanche would get off to a shaky start as they split their first 4 games
with the Vancouver Canucks. The Avalanche would find themselves in trouble again
trailing late in Game 5 at home. However, Joe Sakic would tie the game with
5 minutes left and win in overtime as the Avs to a 3-2 series lead o Vancouver
where they eliminated the Canucks in Game 6. In the 2nd round the Sakic was the
hero in overtime again as he scored in the 3rd overtime of Game 4 as the Avalanche
evened their series with the Chicago Blackhawks. The dramatic win would
have a snowball effect as the Avalanche won the next 2 to take the series
in 6 games. Facing the Detroit Red Wings who had won a record 61 games the Avalanche
continued to roll winning the first 2 games in Detroit. The Wings would rebound
to win Game 3 in Denver but the Avalanche would take a 3-1 series lead with
a win in Game 4. After the Red Wings took Game 5 in Detroit the Avalanche completed
the upset as Joe Sakic scored 2 goals bring up his playoff total to 17
with a win at McNichols in Game 6. Forced to start the Finals without Claude Lemieux
who was suspended for 2 games for a nasty crosscheck on Kris Draper in Game
6, the Avalanche would not miss a beat dominating the Florida Panthers in the
first 2 games at home winning by a collective 11-3 score. As the series shifted
to Miami Joe Sakic was the hero again scoring his 18th goal in the 2nd period
to give the Avalanche a 3-2 win and a 3-0 series lead. Looking to complete the
sweep the Avalanche were stymied by John Vanbiesbrouck. However Patrick Roy
would keep the puck out of the net as well and the game went scoreless into a 3rd
overtime, where Uwe Krupp beat Vanbiesbrouck on a slap shot to clinch the Stanley
Cup. Joe Sakic who led all playoff scorers with 18 goals and 34 points would
earn the Conn Smythe.
1996/97: Coming of a Stanley Cup in their inaugural season the Avalanche proved it was not
a fluke as they won the President's Trophy for the best overall record in the
NHL with a mark of 49-24-9. In the playoffs the Avalanche would roll past the Chicago
Blackhawks in 6 games and the Edmonton Oilers in 5 to set up a rematch with
the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals. Over the season following
their initial playoff match up the Avalanche and Red Wings engaged in several
brawls one that included Goalies Patrick Roy and Chris Osgood going one on
one. The Avalanche would get off to good start capturing Game 1. However, the
Wings would rally to win the next 3 and take a 3-1 series lead. Facing elimination
for the first time the Avalanche would erupt for a 6-0 win in Game 5. However,
the Wings would end the Avalanche's reign with a 3-1 win in Game 6.
1997/98: In their third season in the Mile High City the Avalanche remained at the top of
the NHL elites winning their 3rd straight Division title with a record of 39-26-17.
However, in the playoffs the Avalanche would slip up in the first round losing
to the Edmonton Oilers in 7 games. The playoff stumble would cost Coach Marc
Crawford his job as he is replaced by Bob Hartley following the season.
1998/99: With came expansion came realignment and the Avalanche were placed in the newly formed
Northwest Division. However in their new Division the Avalanche remained
at the top of the heap winning their 4th straight Division title. (5th if you count
their final year in Quebec while posting a 44-28-10 record.) Along the way
the Avalanche got an infusion of youth as Chris Drury captured the Calder Trophy
as the NHL's top rookie. In the playoffs the Avalanche would top the San Jose
Sharks in 6 games to set up a 2nd round series with Detroit Red Wings. The Avalanche
would quickly find themselves in a hole as they lost the first 2 games
at home. However, the Avalanche would rock Detroit with an 11-goal landslide to
even the series with wins in Games 3 and 4. From there the Avalanche would roll
winning the next 2 to take the series in 6 games. In the Western Conference Finals
for the 3rd time in 4 years the Avalanche would battle the Dallas Stars back
and forth through the first 4 games before taking a 3-2 series lead home for
Game 6. However, the Stars would comeback to win the series sin 7 games claiming
the final 2 games with identical 4-1 scores.
1999/00: For their 5th season in Denver the Avalanche had a shimmering new arena as the Pepsi
Center replaced the crumbling McNichols Arena. In their new home the Avalanche
would continue to roll over their division opponents winning their 6th straight
division title with a 42-29-11-1 record. As the playoff approached the Avalanche
added Ray Bourque one of the top defenseman in NHL history, in a trade with
Boston Bruins. In the playoffs the Avalanche rolled their way to the Western
Conference Finals again beating the Phoenix Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings each
in 5 games. However, the Avalanche would fall to the Dallas Stars in a hard fought
7-game war in which 5 games were decided by 1 goal.
2000/01: The season started out as a mission for Ray Bourque who desperately wanted to win
the Stanley Cup in his final season. From the start of the season it was clear
that the Avalanche would be the team to beat as they rolled to the President's
Trophy with a 52-16-10-4 record. Along the way another legend Patrick Roy made
history as he broke Terry Sawchuck's record for career wins with 448. In the playoffs
the Avalanche would get off to a fast start as they swept the Vancouver
Canucks in 4 straight. However in the 2nd Round the Avalanche would hit a bumpy
road as they lost back-to-back 1-0 games to the Los Angeles Kings after taking
a 3-1 series lead. Facing elimination the Avalanche would burry the Kings 5-1
in Game 7. The Avalanche would find things easier as they blasted the St. Louis
Blues in 5 games. In the finals the Avalanche faced the New Jersey Devils who
once called Denver home. After the 2 teams split the first 4 games the Avalanche
appeared to be in trouble as they dropped a crucial 5th game at home to fall
behind 3-2 in the series. However facing elimination in New Jersey, Patrick Roy
would rise to the occasion by stopping all 24-shots, while setting the career
record for playoff shutouts in a 4-0 Avalanche win that sent the series to a 7th
Game. Back at the Pepsi Center in Game 7 Roy was a brick wall again stopping
21 of 22 shots as Alex Tanguay scored twice in an Avalanche 3-1 win. Patrick Roy
would go on to win his record 3rd Conn Smythe award, as Ray Bourque road off
into the sunset with the Stanley Cup.
2001/02: Despite missing Peter Forsberg for the entire regular season due to an assortment
of injuries the Avalanche continued their reign at the top of the division winning
their 7th division title in 7 seasons since moving to Colorado with a record
of 45-28-8-1. Along the way Patrick Roy became the first goalie to win 500 career
games. In the playoffs the Avalanche were pushed to 7 games by the Los Angels
Kings for the second year in a row after grabbing a 3-1 series lead. Once
gain the Avalanche would burry the Kings in Game 7 winning 4-0. In the 2nd round
it was the Avalanche who needed to rally after being down 3-2 against the San
Jose Sharks. After falling behind 1-0 late in the 2nd period the Avalanche would
tie the game 34 seconds later and win the game 2-1 in overtime on a goal by
Peter Forsberg who returned for the playoffs in midseason form. In Game 7 Patrick
Roy would make 27 saves as Peter Forsberg scored the games only goal as the
Avalanche made the Western Conference Finals for the 6th time in 7 seasons since
moving to Colorado. Facing their hated rivals the Detroit Red Wings the Avalanche
would take a 3-2 series lead to the Pepsi Center for Game 6. However the Avalanche
would not score another goal as the Red Wings forced Game 7 with a 2-0
win. In Game 7 it would only get worse as Patrick Roy had a rare bad game as the
Red Wings buried the Avalanche with a 7-0 win in Detroit.
2002/03: With Patrick Roy showing his age and struggling early the Avalanche get off to a
slow start, with Joe Sakic sitting out much of the first half due to injuries.
With the Avalanche holding a mediocre 10-8-9-4 record on December 16th, Coach Bob
Hartley is fired despite leading the Avs to at least the Western Conference
Finals in his first 4 seasons. Under his replacement Tony Granato, the Avalanche
would begin to turn things around as the team got healthy, as the season wound
down the Avalanche played their best hockey as Peter Forsberg made a run for
the scoring title. Forsberg charge for the scoring title also lifted the Avalanche
into contention for a record 10th straight division title dating back to their
final year in Quebec. On the final day of the season Pete Forsberg netted a
goal to win the scoring title and lead the Avalanche into first place for the
first time all season, as they finished 1 point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks
with a record of 42-19-13-8. In the playoffs the Avalanche got off to a shaky
start as they dropped Game 1 to the Minnesota Wild at home 4-2. However, the
Avalanche would recover to easily win the next 3 games as they seemed to be
cruising to the 2nd round with a 3-1 series lead. However, with a chance to close
things out at home in Game 5, the Avs would fall behind 3-0, on the way to a
3-2 loss. The Avalanche would fall behind again in Game 6 on the road but rallied
with 2 late goals to force overtime. However once again the Avs would be stunned
as Richard Park beat Patrick Roy in overtime to force a 7th game. Playing
Game 7 at home less the 24 hours later the Avalanche would find themselves pushed
to overtime again where Andrew Burnett out faked out Roy to give the Wild a
stunning 3-2 win which eliminated the Avalanche. The stunning playoff collapse
would bring an end to Goalie Patrick Roy's career who retired holding several
major records for goalies including wins at 551.
2003/04: With the retirement of Patrick Roy the Avalanche decided to add some scoring punch
to help his replacement David Aebischer signing free agents Paul Karaka and Teemu
Selanne. However each failed to live up to expectations as neither scored
20 goals. However Aebischer played well in his first year starting posting a 2.09
GAA as the Avalanche were in the hunt for their 10th straight division title.
Battling the Vancouver Canucks down the stretch the fight for the Northwest Division
turned ugly when Canucks star Todd Bertuzzi sucker punched Steve Moore
from behind late in a March 8th game leaving the Avalanche Center with a broken
neck. The Avs seemed to have the division in their hands, when they struggled
down the stretch winning just 2 of their last 10 games as their reign as division
champs came to an end as they lost the division by 1 point to the Canucks posting
a record of 40-22-13-7. In the playoffs the Avalanche got on track easily
dispatching the Dallas Stars in 5 games. However in the second round David Aebischer
struggled allowing 9 goals in the first 2 games as the Avs lost both games
on the road to the San Jose Sharks. Upon arriving home Aebischer would play
better allowing just 1 goal, buy the Avs were held scoreless falling behind 3-0.
In Game 4 facing a sweep Aebischer was sharp again stopping all 27 shots as the
Avs won in overtime 1-0 on a goal by Joe Sakic. Sakic would again score the
overtime winner in Game 5 as the Avs began to climb back in the series. However
with a chance to force Game 7 with a win at home the Avalanche ran out of gas
losing Game 6 by a score of 3-1.
2004/05: Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out
2005/06: Being one of the NHL's biggest spending teams, the Avalanche were hurt by the new
Salary Cap established during the lock out, as they lost Adam Foote, Teemu Selanne,
Paul Kariya and Peter Forsberg. Despite the heavy losses the Avalanche managed
to play well through the first two months as posted a 14-8-3 record through
25 games. However they hardly played consistent hockey as Goalie David Aebischer
struggled, and was eventually traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Jose Theodore.
When the deal was completed Theodore was injured, and the Avalanche had
to back up Petr Budaj could keep them in the playoff chase. Budaj would hold his
own, but Theodore would struggle upon his return losing 3 of four starts, as
the Avalanche finished with a 43-30-9 record, and only managed the seventh seed.
Despite struggling down the stretch the Avalanche seemed reenergized by the
start of the playoffs as they thumped the Dallas Stars with two 5-goal games to
take a 2-0 lead on the road, then took a 3-0 series lead on a 4-3 overtime win
as Andrew Brunette tied the game with 57 seconds left then Alex Tanguay won it
for the second game in a row, 69 seconds in to overtime. After losing Game 4 at
home the Avalanche got another overtime win on a goal by Andrew Brunette to eliminate
the Stars in 5. However, in the second round the Avalanche would never
be in the series as they lost the first two games to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
by a combined score of 8-0. As the series shifted to Colorado the Avalanche
had their chances in Game 3 but lost in overtime 4-3, as Ducks went on to complete
the sweep with a 4-1 win in Game 4. Following the season the Avalanche would
re-sign Captain Joe Sakic, but said good bye to Alex Tanguay, Dan Hinote and
Rob Blake.
2006/07: The season began with the Avalanche in transition as only Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk
were left from the 2001 Stanley Cup Championship team, while the rest of the
roster was full of rookies like Paul Stastny, the son of Quebec Nordiques legend
Peter Stastny. Not surprisingly the Avalanche got off to a slow start as they
held a mediocre 18-18-2 record heading into the New Year. In the second half
the Avalanche would play considerably better as they made a late run for the playoffs
with a 15-2-2 run for the playoffs, as Stastny established himself as one
of the league's premiere young goal scorers with a 16-game point scoring streak
as he was one of three finalist for the Calder Trophy with 28 goals and 50
assists. However, it would not be enough to get the Avalanche into the playoffs
as they missed the postseason by one point with a record of 44-31-7. |
