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After a white-hot start, the Colorado Avalanche are beginning to look human again. Having started the season 6-1-2, the Avs have started to slip, going 1-2-0 in their last three contests. However disheartening that record may seem, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it looks. Embed from Getty Images Tampa Bay Lightning The last three games started with a loss to Tampa Bay at home. Losing at home is never good, especially with how tight the Avs have played in Pepsi Center over the last twelve months – but there is good news here. Holding last year’s league leader in goals scored to one isRead More →

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We are now two weeks into the 2018-19 season and the Colorado Avalanche are sitting on a record of 6-1-2. They are currently in second place in all of the NHL with 14 points, just behind the Nashville Predators due to the ROW tiebreaker. It’s incredibly exciting to see a team who has spent six of the first nine games on the road put together these performances, led by it’s first line and special teams units. OFFENSE If last season proved anything, it’s that Colorado knows how to win at home. However, it also left the team wondering what they’ll need to do to turnRead More →

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The Colorado Avalanche started their 2018-2019 campaign at home against the Minnesota Wild this year. The team has a whole lot to be excited about between having found a WC spot last season with tons of potential left to build around and still having a chance at the first-overall pick in the Jack Hughes lottery. In order to look ahead to the upcoming season, it’s important that we go backwards first. The Colorado Avalanche were the Cinderella Story behind the Cinderella Story last year. In a season which saw the team go from the worst record in hockey to beating out the Blues for theRead More →

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Episode Number 200 is here! Looking back on the first 200 episodes, Carl and Joel recap their favorite moments and have a quiz! Want to win prizes? Answer all 5 questions right and it could be you! They are joined by a special guest: Gritty from the Philadelphia Flyers has a beef with what the guys had to say about his team! It’s time to learn a little about the NHL’s newest mascot. The 4th Line Hockey Podcast #200 – The NHL Western Conference Preview It’s time to preview the Western conference. Do the Predators have what it takes to repeat? Can the Golden KnightsRead More →

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In: Central Division, NHL
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As the arrow of time advances from summer to fall, we can all rejoice at the impending return of the NHL. Here at 4th Line Towers we can’t wait to watch some proper hockey again. This year we’re approaching our previews in a different way; the word count for each team’s preview has been dictated by the number of points that team scored last season. To further mix things up, we’ve divvied up the teams between our writers and some special guests. Let the Central division preview begin! Nashville Predators – Mike Laybourne 2017/18: 117 points For a good preview on the Preds, go read last season’sRead More →

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Sunday night ended any speculation about Center, Ryan O’Reilly, being traded to the St. Louis Blues. He is no longer a Buffalo Sabre. GM Jason Botterill was essentially given what he asked for. Two roster players (Patrik Berglund, Vladmir Sobotka), a prospect (Tage Thompson), and two higher draft picks (1st-2019 with conditions, 2nd-2021). Scoring and forward depth plagued Buffalo but Berglund and Sobotka will improve the bottom-six eventually. Thompson likely starts in the minors and could elevate someone from Rochester (C.J. Smith, Sean Malone) if they are ready. A first round pick never hurts although it is Top 10 protected. The Blues, adding two centersRead More →

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The Blackhawks have the 8th overall draft pick, inside the top ten for the first time in over ten years thanks to their subpar finish last season, and while they likely won’t be getting an immediate impact game changer like Rasmus Dahlin, there are a number of promising defenders slated to hit the top ten in this years NHL Draft well. Bowman will undoubtedly throw his penny in and hope to pull out a blue chip prospect that will help quarterback the Blackhawks future along with Alex DeBrincat, and Nick Schmaltz. Chicago Blackhawks Draft Options   Quinn Hughes – USA – Defense Age: 18 Height:Read More →

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It is officially the time of year where we go from the euphoria of a Stanley Cup Final and a Cup Champion crowned to that roughly three week period of rumors and rampant speculation before free agency hits and the NHL Draft cranks up the trade insanity. Every team has fat to trim and holes to fill, and there tends to be no shortage of players dangled in an effort for each team to accomplish both goals. The Blackhawks have done a lot of maneuvering over the last eight years, and because of their successes they haven’t always been the ones in power because simplyRead More →

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There is not a person out there that would argue that the Chicago Blackhawks had a terrible season in 2017-18. It started off great with a pair of dominant wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets, but things spiraled quickly when it started to become clear that Corey Crawford was working overtime to plug a bevy of holes in the beat up dinghy masquerading as their blueline. In the span of a couple of years the Blackhawks blueline has gone from an unsinkable ship to the SS Minnow. Blackhawk Down Things went further off the rails when Crawford went down with anRead More →

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In: Central Division, Pacific Division, Playoffs
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The Winnipeg Jets had the Nashville Predators on the ropes, but last year’s runner up was able to dig deep and force a Game 7. While a Game 7 win is energizing on its own, Game 1 on Saturday could be a rude awakening for the Jets as the Vegas Golden Knights have been kicking back since last Sunday. The question is, will the advantage be to the fresh team or the one riding a wave of adrenaline to kick off the series. The Ride So Far These two teams both came into the season with something in common, no one was really sure they’dRead More →