Connect with us

The Soapbox

Fan’s View: What it was like being at a full, sellout crowd again for an Avs game

Published

on

A lot of you reading this probably know Nicci Erickson, either personally or virtually. She is a longtime Avs fan and one of my favorite people. Nicci is the mother of two, including the newborn in this picture, Nolan.

Nicci still is able to get to an Avs game now and then, though, and she penned the following piece about her experience at the game Wednesday night against Chicago, and I’m happy to share it. Please show Nicci some love at her Twitter handle, @AvsQueen20. She loves to talk with fellow Avs fans!

By Nicci Erickson

What a game last night huh?? The boys were on fire, the shots were everywhere and the physicality of the game was amazing. Now in my last article I spoke about the 5-on-3 against Vegas during the outdoor game and today I wanted to talk about Jack Johnson and the physicality that we were lacking last year. 

The goal that Jack got past Fleury last night was incredible. Not only was he in the perfect spot to steal the puck, but he got his speed up to get it past Fleury. Now remember he is 34 years old so he is a little older and he has had some issues in his past (If you don’t know, back in 2016 Jack said his parents mismanaged his finances and he had to file bankruptcy. He was one of the lowest paid players in the league for a few years.) But he came out flying just like the rest of the team and that should give him some amazing confidence. Now I know a lot of people had said, why give him a PTO. He wanted a chance to show he can still play and defend with the best. He chose Colorado for a reason. We have a skillful team, we got youth and we have some of the best scoring forwards in the league. He wants a chance to win the cup and get his ring. 

I also wanted to talk about the physical play last night. Last year in the second round we faced Vegas and boy were they physical. The team knew that was what we were lacking to get past them in the second round. Vegas has always been a beefy and physical team and Sakic sure looks like he addressed the physicality. Last night I was seeing checks coming from every angle. Darren Helm and Jack Johnson were laying some great checks and showing Chicago that were not messing around. Compher was getting into Chicago’s faces and so was LOC. This right here is showing me that our Avalanche are not going to be bullied and pushed around this year. They want to show the NHL that we are the elite team, people are saying we are. That we are ready to make it past the second round and are going to go for Stanley. I am so excited and pumped to see what our team can do. 

Next matchup is against St Louis and if we know from the past several years, that Rivalry is just going to get better. Lets see if the Avs physical play will still be there and if we get Mackinnon back in the lineup as well. See you guys Saturday!

Colorado's premier coverage of the Avalanche from professional hockey people. Evan Rawal, Editor-in-Chief. Part of the National Hockey Now family.

This site is in no way associated with the Colorado Avalanche or the NHL. Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now.