Evan’s Daily: Worst NHL Team Ever? Former Avalanche Goalie Unbeatable

I have to assume a lot of readers here lived through the 2016-17 season for the Colorado Avalanche. It was painful, and I’m not sure I would want any other NHL fanbase to have to go through that. Well, it looks like the San Jose Sharks might find a way to top that Avalanche team this season.

Meanwhile, a former Avalanche goaltender put together his second straight shutout on Long Island, and is showing he’s still got the goods.

On the current Avalanche squad, they sent Riley Tufte to the AHL on Thursday morning, but he could still find his way back into the NHL as soon as later this week.

All that and more in this Friday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Taking a look back at the win over the St. Louis Blues, and how well the Avalanche played in front of Ivan Prosvetov.

The Avalanche were a little sleepy in the middle period against the Blues, but Cale Makar woke everyone up to start the third period. (+)

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Riley Tufte was sent to the Eagles on Thursday morning, but there’s a chance he could still come back up and play on Saturday against Vegas.

Around The NHL

The 2016-17 Avalanche were bad. Really bad. And yet, they weren’t even close to having the worst season in NHL history.

With the start the San Jose Sharks are off to, they might give the 1975 Washington Capitals a real run for their money.

Through 10 games, the Sharks have ONE point, and that one point came on the back of Mackenzie Blackwood, who had to stop 50+ shots against the Avalanche for the Sharks to get to overtime.

“We got some tough losses in the playoffs, but this is probably the most embarrassing loss,” Tomas Hertl said after their 10-0 loss on Thursday. Yes, you read that correctly. 10-0.

The thing is, the Sharks could have been this bad last year (and potentially had Connor Bedard), but Erik Karlsson won them same games. He’s not there this season, and it’s gone off the rails. Macklin Celebrini looks like a nice consolation prize for them, assuming they can actually win the NHL Draft Lottery. It’s going to be a long season for Sharks fans.

Meanwhile, Semyon Varlamov appears to be unbeatable this season for the New York Islanders, as he registered his second straight shutout. He has not given up a goal in his last 137:20 of game time. Good for Varlamov, who is probably still the second best goaltender in Avalanche history.

National Hockey Now

The Adam Johnson tragedy has spurred some members of the Pittsburgh Penguins to try out neck guards.

After playing with him for a little bit, Tyler Bertuzzi knows a little bit more about Brad Marchand.

Alex Barkov keeps breaking records for the Florida Panthers.

The next opponent for the Avalanche looks pretty darn good, as the Vegas Golden Knights used a Marchessault hat trick to beat the Winnipeg Jets.

In their first game without Niklas Backstrom, the Washington Capitals were shutout.

He’s getting paid good money, and the Nashville Predators need Filip Forsberg to start turning his chances into goals.