DENVER – With all the problems that the Colorado Avalanche organization are having this season one might expect for the fan base to become bitter, jaded, and unfaithful. While any fan knows it is much easier to support a team that is doing well or at least not rock bottom, Avalanche fans still turn out to defend the honor of the home town team.
I took in a game on Sunday with my friend Alex. My friend had to drive down from Thornton, and because he didn’t give enough time for parking, I got to take in the first 10 minutes of the first period alone. What I observed from the very back of Mt. Loud, was the Pepsi Center appeared to have a sizable crowd, while not being completely sold out.
My first thought was that there must be a majority of Tampa Bay Lightning fans here to see their team win. This thought came to me when I saw a lot of Lighting apparel while walking to the arena.
This thought was quickly silenced when a short chant of “Let’s go Lighting!” was bombarded with an intimidating “Boo!” from the rest of the arena. Needless to say, I didn’t notice any other verbal encouragement for the visiting team that evening. Even when the Lightning took, what appeared to be an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the second period, the arena was relatively quiet for the opposition.
There was the occasional, “here we go again” and “that’s our Avalanche” uttered from the locals when the second goal for Tampa Bay was scored. Who can blame them? The Avalanche are 26 points behind any playoff position in the Western Conference and 12 points behind the next worse team in the west, the Arizona Coyotes.
Keeping an eye on the crowd size from the highest seat in the Pepsi Center I noticed not many fans wanted to leave early. Those faithful who did stick around were in for a treat.
At about three minutes into the third period, the Avalanche are able to claw their way onto the scoreboard. Mikko Rantanen was able to rush in and put in a rebound from a Blake Comeau shot.
The locals are rejuvenated!
Chants of “Let’s go Avalanche!” are now more frequent. Even the three kids in front of me are screaming at the top of their lungs, just wanting their home team to tie things up and set up for the win.
About 11 minutes into the third, the Lighting appear to have silenced the crowd. A goal from Tyler Johnson looks to make this contest a two-goal affair again. There was an initial review and when the replay showed up on Pepsivision, you could hear each Avalanche fan saying what they wanted to hear. Each one rationalizing how this couldn’t be anything more than goaltender interference by Johnson. The play was reviewed in Toronto and eventually came back and was ruled a no goal to the delight of the Avalanche fans.
The air that was taken out of the Pepsi Center had now returned and fans were mad. Things started getting personal when fans below me started to heckle Ben Bishop. A few obscenities tossed in with his name, nothing you don’t expect to hear from the cheap seats.
Time was running out. This was still a one goal game. At about 18:30 into the third, Calvin Pickard was pulled for the extra attacker. Things got a little hectic in the seats. Every ill-advised pass heard a scream of “what are you doing?!”
Even those of us nonprofessionals were chiming in with our two cents of how to play the puck. “Don’t do that!” “Protect the puck!” There was even a moment when there was a thought of making a pass across ice, in front of an empty net, when I heard a collective “No!” from the row I was sitting in (this did include me). This must have had some influence, as the pass was not made in front of the net, rather went behind the net.
Now with the fans helping the team not make critical mistakes, it was time for the players to return the favor. With 48 seconds left on the clock Matt Duchene banks a shot off of Victor Hedman and then off the shin of Jake Dotchin to tie the game. For the first time in the game, things were looking up.
During the overtime period, there were many fans on their feet hoping for the best. Alex, myself and the row in which we were sitting, couldn’t sit down as the Avalanche were showing some signs of life.
After several chances in the offensive end for the Avalanche, the game came down to a poor turnover in the defensive zone that resulted in a Johnathan Drouin goal to end the game.
As the fans started to leave the building, I could hear some talk about how they expected this to happen. Some commented on the blown opportunity earlier in the overtime period when Nathan McKinnon failed to corral the puck on a breakaway.
While the Avalanche have not been able to produce a competitive team this year, what I came away with from this game was how loyal of a devoted fanbase remains. With all the problems from coach replacement to long losing streaks, the fans still hold out hope of improvement. Even if it will not help this year.
You must be logged in to post a comment.