In the words of Jon Bonjiovi (yes, that's his real name), "Oh, we're halfway there."
The Avalanche have officially passed the half-way mark in their season. And yes, despite the injuries they've dealt with all season, the Avalanche sit firmly in a playoff spot at the moment.
What does the second half of the season hold?
Here are a few educated guesses:
Colorado adds a defenseman
As the season has gone on, it's become obvious coach Jared Bednar and company aren't totally happy with what they have beyond their top four. Oliver Kylington hasn't been healthy, Calvin de Haan and John Ludvig have been frequent healthy scratches, and Keaton Middleton isn't trusted to play a whole lot when he is in the lineup.
Even Sam Malinski, who had a great start to the year, took a step back in the second quarter. While he's a great skater and moves the puck well, he also doesn't play special teams and has contributed just five points. When the playoffs roll around, the Avalanche may be more interested in having a trusted penalty kill in that role or, at the very least, someone who can bring out the best in Malinski. That's why they'll go out and add a veteran defenseman with size for the playoffs.
Forward brought in from Seattle
Yanni Gourde would be a perfect addition to the Avalanche forward group as a third-line center, but the Avalanche don't exactly have a ton of assets to go out and make a big splash. Gourde will be one of the most sought-after players at the deadline, which will make it difficult for Colorado to compete with what other teams might be able to offer.
Instead, the Avalanche will look to one of Gourde's teammates for help, adding energy forward Brandon Tanev. The 33-year-old isn't a big man but is a solid penalty killer and more than willing to throw his body around. Bednar needs more bottom-six players he can trust, and he hasn't had that most of the season.
Colton moves back to center
This seemed impossible about a month ago, but Colton has slowed down a bit. Given the price to add a third-line center at the deadline, Colorado will have no choice but to move Colton back to the middle to spread the wealth in the lineup. Parker Kelly has done a nice job learning the position on the fly, but Bednar himself has admitted he'd prefer Kelly's line to be the fourth line. Colton back at center allows for that to happen.
MacKinnon takes home first scoring title
He's been at the top for most of the season and doesn't appear to be slowing down. Nathan MacKinnon fell just short of winning the scoring title last season but still managed to walk away with the Hart Trophy. This season, it will flip. He'll take home the scoring title but fall just short of being named MVP again.
The Norris returns to Denver
It feels like it's going to be Cale Makar vs. Quinn Hughes battling it out for the next decade for the Norris Trophy. Last year Hughes took home the award and was deserving, but this year it'll end up back in the hands of Makar in a tight race.
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Colorado falls just short of making another Stanley Cup final
Although Mackenzie Blackwood has zero playoff experience, it won't matter once the real games begin. He'll lock in and help the Avalanche take out two Central Division opponents in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Colorado's ride will end in the conference finals when they run into the big, bad Vegas Golden Knights, who have been the one team to keep pace with Colorado since the start of December. It's hard to win a Stanley Cup, and when there's not a lot of separation between the top seven teams in the Western Conference, it gets a whole lot harder to go all the way. Colorado will get close but come up just short.
Wood returns in playoffs, playing last games for team
Whatever has been ailing Miles Wood is pretty serious, but he'll return in time for the playoffs, adding another physical bottom six player for Bednar to use. Those will be his last games in an Avalanche uniform, as the team will move him in the summer to create a bit of cap space. $2.5 million is just a bit too rich for someone who was playing on the fourth line when he was healthy.
Rantanen signs right at the wire
It might take until 11:59 p.m. on June 30 to hammer out the details, but Mikko Rantanen and the Avalanche come to an agreement to keep the big Finn in Denver. It's just too good of a fit for both sides and replacing an elite scorer would be too difficult for the Avalanche to do if they want to stay contenders.
Jets 3, Avalanche 0
What happened: Winnipeg scored in the first minute of the game and gave the Avalanche no room to work with the rest of the night.
What went right: Not many positives to take from this game, but Juuso Parssinen appeared to have some juice again and finished the night with the best possession numbers on the team. He started the game as the second line center and finished on the fourth line, which doesn't make a ton of sense in the grand scheme of things, but he's still earning trust from the coaching staff.
What went wrong: You can't score if you don't shoot, and the Avalanche, for whatever reason, have been passing up too many scoring opportunities of late. It has to be driving Jared Bednar insane. In the second period, with the score still 1-0 in favor of Winnipeg, Jonathan Drouin found himself all alone in front of Hellebuyck with the puck. He had plenty of time to make a move at the net, but instead sat and waited for the perfect pass. That pass was broken up and about 40 seconds later the Jets made it 2-0.
There were plenty of other opportunities to shoot throughout the game, particularly on the power play, but the Avalanche got a little too cute with the puck.
Jets goal scorers: Ehlers (13, 14), Scheifele (25)
Between the pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood still hasn't given up more than two goals in a game in an Avalanche uniform yet. He stopped 26 of 28 shots in the loss.
What's next: Colorado returns home for a five-game homestand, starting with the New York Rangers on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
