After finishing the 2016-17 season with a historically awful 48 points, The Colorado Avalanche are heading back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
The team faced a win-and-in game against the St. Louis Blues, who were also battling for their playoff lives in the contest. With Colorado ahead 3-1, captain Gabriel Landeskog put home an empty-netter to solidify the organization’s spot in the 2018 postseason. Following the goal, a dog pile ensued in front of the home crowd.
Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon noticeably looked the most excited and rightfully so. The 22-year-old was easily the team’s most valuable player, finishing the season with 97 points and trailed only Connor McDavid with 1.31. points per game. The point total was his highest since recording 63 as a rookie in 2014.
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Colorado will now head to Nashville to take on the President Trophy winning Predators as a number eight seed. The likelihood of them coming out of the series is slim, but they should be thrilled about getting to mid-April in the first place. According to the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, Colorado held the sixth worst odds at 100-1 of winning the Stanley Cup heading into the regular season.
You can probably expect a few more celebrations like this one if the Avalanche can find a way to make a postseason run.
(H/T r/Hockey)
