The Break Was Good, But Hockey's Back!

Byram is back as the Avs battle Pens tonight coming out of bye week and all-star break.

Best buddies Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon at the All-Star Game on Sunday.

It’s been 10 days since the Colorado Avalanche last played a game. 

So much has happened in that span that it feels like a whole new season is starting tonight rather than the continuation of the frustrating, injury-riddled, inconsistent one that pre-dates tonight’s fresh start in Pittsburgh.

My sinuses failed me. The referees failed the Bengals. The Chinese failed espionage. Tom Brady retired… again. So much has happened!

As Avs fans, we’ve also been rewarded with a championship we didn't know we needed, but will now cherish forever and pass down the tales of its glory to the next generation. That, of course, being the SplashShot Championship won by Mikko Rantenan and Cale Makar. That title now gives the Colorado franchise three major championships won in the state of Florida, passing the Lightning’s paltry two for supremacy.

What else has happened since that Saturday matinee in which Jordan Binnington “Jordan Binnington’ed” has been a whole lot of rest and relaxation for members of the Avalanche. If the passive following of much younger and richer athletes’ social media has taught me anything in the last 10 days, it’s that members of the team took advantage of their break.