That Was Embarrassing | Defector

Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy and still lost in a sweep, described as a total humiliation for Denver and Colorado. The team is said to have failed to win even a single game despite leading by three goals in at least one instance. Cale Makar’s early absence due to injury and Nathan MacKinnon’s limited condition are acknowledged, along with goalie factors involving Carter Hart. Vegas is portrayed as more energetic and better prepared, while Colorado is described as unable to score and unable to keep Vegas from scoring. The roster’s regular-season dominance is contrasted with postseason “shittiness” when it mattered. The piece suggests Colorado may consider changes after a shocking crash-out.

"Facing a team that changed their coach with eight games remaining in the regular season, the Avs couldn't find a way to take even just one measly game, not even a game they led by three goals. They couldn't score. They couldn't keep Vegas off the board. They lost because they stunk. With their season on the line, Vegas made the Avs look like a bunch of high schoolers at open skate."

"A deep, creatively inspired roster that ranked first in both goals scored and goals allowed ranked first in shittiness when it mattered. With maybe one or two exceptions they served up only the limpest of challenges for Hart in goal. The Avs were caged by Vegas, who seemed to play with more excitement and enthusiasm than the guys whose season and legacy were on the line."

"I get that Cale Makar was too injured to play for the first two games, and that Nathan MacKinnon didn't finish the series anywhere near 100 percent. I'll even concede that there was a certain amount of hot goalie woo-woo with Carter Hart in net for Vegas. Doesn't matter. This sweep was total humiliation for the Avalanche."

"Colorado gets to return nearly the whole of this lineup for one more year if they so choose, but after such a shocking crash-out, they might not want to. The last four games lost by this 121-point Colorado team were so shamefully ugly that they actually reached back in time and made the rest of the division look like crud by comparison."

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