Looking Back and Ahead: Vancouver, Minny and Calgary

Manson's game misconduct and a Friday-night tilt in St. Paul.

The horror of Manson’s action caused him to self reflect in the penalty box.

LOOKING BACK
Colorado Avalanche 5, Vancouver Canucks 2

In a game that many were looking forward to as a true test for a surprising Canucks team and another quality opponent for an Avalanche team who was coming off a heartbreaker in Nashville two nights earlier, this one lived up to the hype.

For some. Canucks fans would disagree.

It was — as I mentioned in my preview of the game — a battle between the league’s two best defensemen as Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes squared off for the first time this season. Makar won the individual battle with a goal and assist, while also claiming the team win as Colorado’s three-tally third was the difference in a 5-2 home win. Hughes played well and came away with a helper and a few memorable defensive plays, but it was a game in which Makar’s star shined brighter.

Of course, you can also talk about Valeri Nichushkin scoring a goal in his fifth straight game and continuing his trend of being the best becoming-a-dad scorer of all time with seven goals in seven games since his kid was born. You could also talk about Jonathan Druoin notching two points (1-1-2) in the opening period and somehow earning one of the three stars of the game (while Makar didn’t…). Or, you could talk about Riley Tufte once again seamlessly entering the team’s lineup and getting credit for the game winner. Sure, the Miles Wood shot went in off Tufte’s knee, but you have to credit players for solid positioning and that’s just what Tufte did when setting up in front of the net.