On January 31, 2025, the Colorado Avalanche decisively defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-0 at Ball Arena, showcasing their strength and determination to climb the standings. This match, marked by powerful performances from new acquisitions, illustrated the Avalanche's readiness to compete for playoff positions.
The game opened with the Avalanche blitzing the Blues, scoring four goals within the first period, which is the most they have recorded in any opening period this season. Jonathan Drouin kicked off the scoring at 4:57, executing a remarkable goal after receiving a backhanded pass from Juuso Parssinen, who skillfully redirected the puck mid-air past the net.
Just over two minutes later, at 7:39, Martin Necas—a fresh face on the Avalanche roster—scored his first goal with the team. Demonstrated by his impressive skating skills, Necas glided past Blues defenders before firing his shot over the shoulder of goalie Joel Hofer, making the score 2-0. This goal was supported by assists from Devon Toews and Artturi Lehkonen, showing the new team's chemistry blossoming on the ice.
Utilizing their power-play opportunities effectively, the Avalanche scored the third goal when Drouin capitalized on St. Louis' clearing attempt, taking advantage of the chance to throw the puck back on goal. Cale Makar then added the final tally of the period with his wrist shot come from the blue line, which found its way through traffic to extend the lead to 4-0.
Despite the Avalanche dropping some intensity as the game progressed, they netted another goal thanks to Joel Kiviranta’s shot from the high slot, ensuring their dominance as they finished the game with a comprehensive performance. Mackenzie Blackwood held firm between the pipes, making 19 saves to achieve the shutout and providing the solid defensive backbone the Avalanche needed.
The team had previously faced struggles, having gone 1-2-0 on their last road trip, which included the significant trade of Mikko Rantanen. Coach Jared Bednar expressed the urgency for consistency and performance leading up to the Four Nations tournament break. “It was go time right now or the Avs were going to flirt with falling out of playoff position,” Bednar said, giving clear direction to his team.
Realizing the stakes, the Avalanche came back home aiming to solidify their position within the Central Division, standing just five points back from the Dallas Stars. This game was pivotal as it allowed the Avalanche to not only regain momentum but also ratchet up their scoring capabilities.
With this victory, the Avalanche now look forward to their upcoming match against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 2. They hope to continue building on their strong performance and securing valuable points as they enter the final stretch before the Four Nations break.
Fans were particularly excited about the contributions from Necas and Drury, both of whom demonstrated their capacity to impact the game positively. Necas, who had voiced his enthusiasm prior to the game, said, "It’ll be exciting. Carolina only played here once A season. The crowd’s always been phenomenal. So I’m excited.” His exuberance was evident as he celebrated his goal, much to the delight of the home crowd who had shown tremendous support throughout the night.
Overall, the Avalanche orchestrated their best period of the season against the Blues, illustrated not just through individual scoring but strong teamwork and strategic play. Echoing the analysis post-game, this match set the tone for what’s to come as they aim to solidify their playoff hopes with just five games remaining before taking their break.
Fans can only hope this performance is not just a flash of brilliance but rather the spark the Avalanche need to ignite their end-of-season push. With new players finding their rhythm and benchmarks being reached by key performers, such as Nathan MacKinnon, who is on the cusp of another milestone season, the future looks promising for this young, dynamic team.