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The Colorado Avalanche were the betting favorites when the Stanley Cup Playoffs began. Now, they’re down three games to none. Obviously, they’re no longer the favorites. They’re +1400 on FanDuel, the worst odds of the remaining four teams by far. It would be a shock to see them even represent the Western Conference at this point.
But when the series began, they seemed destined to do just that. Stunning results and an unfortunate collection of injuries have pushed the most talented team in the NHL to the brink after an unbelievable collapse in Game 3.
Avalanche on brink after stunning collapse
The Colorado Avalanche were 74-1 in franchise playoff history when leading by three goals. The Avs put up three in the first period to temporarily move past the shock and sting of losing the first two games against the Vegas Golden Knights at home. After Game 3, Colorado is now 74-2 in such contests.
They allowed four unanswered goals before pulling the goalie in search of the tying score, leading to an empty-net goal to cement the win in front of a raucous Vegas crowd. 98% of teams that go up 3-0 in an NHL series go on to win, so the odds are not in Colorado’s favor.
The Golden Knights may have won their division and earned a playoff spot, but they were not exactly considered a threat. The 39-26-17 record is not great, and 95 points wouldn’t have even made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. For reference, Colorado had an NHL-best 121 points in the regular season.
To say this is an upset would be putting it lightly. And to say that it’s a surprise that Vegas has throttled the Avalanche to this degree through three games, two of which were on the road, would also be a major understatement.
Injuries mount
Star defenseman Cale Makar has been injured, missing the first two games before returning for Game 3. Now, Nathan MacKinnon, who is the favorite to win the NHL MVP award this season, may have broken his leg in the Game 3 loss.
MacKinnon didn’t start the third period with the team, and he only skated one regular shift and a power-play with the goalie pulled. It doesn’t look good for his prospects moving forward after a puck smashed into his leg.
“Obviously, we might have to kill him to get him off the ice. It’s just the kind of the person he is and the competitor he is,” goalie Scott Wedgewood said. “He wants to win more than anybody and that’s just another example.” Moving forward, they will probably be without MacKinnon, who scored more goals than anyone in the NHL during the regular season.
Now, the Avs are on the brink of a surprising series loss and an unfathomable sweep. “I mean, obviously it’s our season on the line. Our mentality’s been like that, and it should have been like that today,” Cale Makar said. “I felt like it was. It was desperate at times. But we gave them a couple too many opportunities and they capitalized on that.”
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