Author: Ryan O'Hara

Award-winning sportswriter from Denver, Colorado.

NHL 22 predicts Game 5: Avalanche 5 Lightning 4

DENVER – If NHL 22 is accurate, the Colorado Avalanche will pull off a win for the ages to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history. Many people use video games to make predictions and now that the NHL series has finally moved to the Frostbite engine, the game honestly looks better than anything […]

Kadri makes triumphant return, scores in OT to put Avalanche a win within Stanley Cup

Welcome back Nazem Kadri. After missing the first three games while recovering from a surgically-repaired thumb, Kadri scored the game-winner Wednesday night in Game 4, scoring the game-winner over the Tampa Lightning with a scintillating move on a partial break to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy and send his Avalanche team within a win of hoisting the […]

Avalanche vs. Lightning: Game 4 Preview and Odds

We tried to warn you. The Lightning have been the comeback kids this postseason, having overcome deficits in the Quarterfinals and the Conference Finals to advance to the big dance for the third consecutive season. And Game 3 was no different as the Lightning defeated the Avalanche 6-2 to set up a crucial Game 4 […]

Cale Makar wins Norris trophy, becomes first Avs player to win honor

DENVER – Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s top all-around defenseman each season, on Tuesday for the first time in what could potentially end up as a Hall of Fame career. Makar nipped Victor Edman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, […]

Oilers give head coach Jay Woodcroft three-year extension

The era of Jay Woodcroft will remain with the Edmonton Oilers. The 45-year-old head coach will remain with the team after signing a three-year extension, a deal which was announced on Tuesday. Woodcroft replaced Dave Tippett, who was fired as head coach of the Oilers on Feb. 10, after the team had won just seven […]

Lightning bounce back from dismal performance to down Avs 6-2 in Game 3

TAMPA — Steven Stamkos, Pat Maroon, and Ondrej Palat each scored and had an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lighting scored four times in the second period and overcame a disastrous game on Saturday to beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul and Corey Perry […]

Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 Preview: Avalanche vs. Lightning

The reigning champion Tampa Bay Lightning have to be ecstatic there was only a day to think about the slaughter that transpired in Game 2. The Colorado Avalanche scored a touchdown in their 7-0 shutout win on Saturday night in Denver. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has given up 11 goals in the opening two games […]

Avalanche massacre Lightning 7-0, take 2-0 series lead

DENVER — Colorado Chainsaw Massacre. The Colorado Avalanche decimated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals Saturday evening, shutting out the reigning champions 7-0. For the second consecutive game, Colorado scored three goals in the first period, but this time, were on cruise control from the start. The Avalanche have […]

Avs continue to penetrate Tampa Bay in second period, up 5-0 in Game 2 of Stanley Cup Finals

DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin continues to exemplify why he gets paid the big money. The Avs right winger one-timed a pass from Mikko Rantanen, who recorded his 50th career playoff assist, to score his second goal of the night and his eighth of the playoffs. The action was just as one-sided as the first period […]

Avs dominate opening period, lead Lightning 3-0

DENVER — Ryan McDonagh got called for a hooking penalty, and Valeri Nichushkin made him pay. The Avs right winger tapped in a pass from Game 1 hero Andre Burakovsky, and Colorado is off to a 1-0 lead over the reigning champs. Josh followed up with a wrist shot that sailed past Bolts goalte