What do you make of this Avalanche team?

Part of me wants to say I knew this was coming. Part of me wants to admit that was a lie, and I’ve been a bitter pessimist about the Avalanche for the better part of a week-and-a-half now.

We’ve seen so much fight, so much talent, so much promise from this team all season long leading up to the postseason. And then to handily dismantle an Arizona Coyotes team in the first round — albeit a team that had no business being in the bubble in the first place — only further boosted the confidence I had in this team potentially going the distance. 

And then this series happened. The Avs lose their top goaltender, their most tenured defenseman, their energy-establishing, feisty fourth-line forward, a veteran third-line anchor, potentially their captain, and then another goalie? Come on. Maybe it’s just not their year, I thought. Luck just isn’t on their side.