Colorado

A’s Offense Coming Alive in Colorado

Published

11 months ago

April 6, 2025

After snapping their losing streak in the first game against the Colorado Rockies, the A’s were out for the series win in game two. Despite some troubling signs early on in this one, the A’s ended up winning fairly comfortably, 7-4, with Mason Miller earning his third save of the season. This is the A’s first series win of the season.

The “troublesome” signs came in the second inning.

Catcher Shea Langeliers (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 3 BB) led off the frame with a walk, and Tyler Soderstrom singled, putting runners at first and second. Friday’s hero, Jacob Wilson, came up to bat and grounded to third, where Ryan McMahon stepped on the bag, fired to second baseman Kyle Farmer, who went all the way around the horn to Michael Toglia at first to complete the triple play.

The Rockies hadn’t turned a triple play since 2007, and given that the A’s and Rox play three times a year (now), the odds of it happening to them were pretty slim. Alas, it did, and it seemed like an omen for the game itself.

Those feelings weren’t helped when Farmer doubled with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, and JP Sears immediately surrendered a two-run shot to Sean Bouchard to put Colorado up 2-0. It was a two-run shot to Julio Rodíguez that doomed Sears in Seattle, and it looked like a trend may be forming.

After the first three batters in the bottom of the third reached for the Rockies, Sears was able to get Hunter Goodman to ground into a double play, but a run crossed the plate in the process, giving them a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Lawrence Butler manufactured his own run, leading off the inning with a single, then advancing to second on a Brent Rooker groundout. Butler would take off for third, and the throw to the bag sailed into left field, allowing Butler to score, making it 3-1.

A pair of walks to JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers would see the A’s threaten yet again, but Tyler Soderstrom would strike out, and Wilson would yet again ground to third. Luckily, there were already two outs in the frame, so it didn’t result in a second triple play.

In the sixth, nearly the exact same scenario would play out, with Bleday and Langeliers drawing walks, but this time with nobody out. Soderstrom ripped a double down the first base line, scoring Bleday from second and leaving runners at second and third for Wilson, who would face reliever Jimmy Herget.

Wilson would get his revenge, doubling home the pair to give the A’s the lead, 4-3. It was Wilson’s second go-ahead hit in as many days. It’s been quite a week for Wilson, who hit his first MLB home run against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, the first MLB home run at Sutter Health Park, and he’s followed that up with huge hits in the first two games in Colorado.

In the seventh, former A’s reliever Scott Alexander came on to pitch for the Rockies, and he promptly gave up a double to Butler. Yet, the lefty would catch the A’s star leaning, and ended up technically picking him off, though a throw was never made.

Alexander ran towards third when Butler was halfway, getting him to retreat back to second. Butler juked in an attempt to reach third, but went out of the running lane as Alexander tagged him.

Immediately after this, Brent Rooker hit one out to center, padding the A’s lead and making it a 5-3 game. Rooker’s shot traveled an estimated 425 feet. In the dugout, Butler seemed to apologize to Rook after the home run, but the veteran patted him on the chest and seemingly reassured Butler.

JJ Bleday (0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 runs) would walk yet again, and Shea Langeliers smacked a 429 foot homer of his own to center, putting the A’s up four.

Sears would get the first out in the seventh, but then gave up a single to Farmer and walked Bouchard on a questionable ball four call, which lead to manager Mark Kotsay going to the bullpen.

Justin Sterner came in and continued his perfect start to the season, getting Jordan Beck to fly out and Brenton Doyle to strike out, ending the threat.

Tyler Ferguson gave up his first earned run of the season on a Ryan McMahon solo shot in the eighth inning, which created a save opportunity in the ninth for Miller. Yet again, it was the slider that he used slightly more than the heater, and he struck out two to end the game.

With the win, the A’s are now 4-5 on the year and sit in third place in the AL West, 1.5 back of the Los Angeles Angels, and three back of the Texas Rangers. All three clubs won on Saturday night, while the Houston Astros (3-5) and Seattle Mariners (3-6) each lost their games.

JP Sears got the win to even up his record at 1-1, after finishing with 6.1 innings of work, giving up six hits, three earned runs, walking two and striking out two. This is the best start to a season that Sears has had with the A’s, dating back to 2023.

He holds a 3.46 ERA, and nearly all of the damage against him has been on two two-run homers. He looks to be in line for the opening game of the series with the New York Mets in Sacramento.

As for Sunday’s finale, the A’s are expected to throw Joey Estes out there as he hopes to rebound from his start on Monday against the Cubs where he struggled with his command and gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks across four innings of work. He’ll be opposed by 23-year-old Chase Dollander, who will be making his MLB debut. Dollander is also the Rockies’ No. 1 prospect.

Noah Murdock Could be a Leverage Reliever Before Long. dark. Next. Noah Murdock Could be a Leverage Reliever Before Long

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Colorado

‘It’s Not a Penalty’: Bednar Rips Officials For MacKinnon Ejection | Colorado Hockey Now

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

‘It’s Not a Penalty’: Bednar Rips Officials For MacKinnon Ejection | Colorado Hockey Now

Head coach Jared Bednar is often calm and calculated during his postgame press conferences. But his frustrations were made loud and clear on Tuesday, following the Avalanche’s 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena in a game that saw superstar center Nathan MacKinnon get ejected late in the second period.

With the Avs on the power play trailing 2-1, MacKinnon entered the Oilers’ zone with speed and received an east-to-west pass from Martin Necas. MacKinnon’s shot went wide, but with little space to maneuver because Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was cutting in on him, MacKinnon barreled into goalie Connor Ingram and was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

“[MacKinnon] makes the play on the puck, and I got his toes cutting up ice probably through the top of the paint, and Ingram’s on the goal line. There’s no chance that he hits the goalie if Nurse doesn’t run into him. He’s not hitting the goalie,” Bednar said, after watching his team fall to 43-11-9 on the season.

Ingram left the game with an injury and did not return.

“I don’t care if he’s injured, not injured, if it’s a severe crash, not a severe crash. It’s not a penalty,” Bednar said. “If you put guys in your own goalie, it’s not a penalty.”

The MacKinnon call prematurely ended the Avs’ second power play of the night. They successfully killed off the 4:05 remaining on the major and tied the game, but couldn’t secure a point.

Ross Colton, Necas, and Valeri Nichushkin had Colorado’s goals. Unfortunately for Colton, he left the game with an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return.

“He took a shot from a player during the game and he kind of tightened up so he’s got an upper-body injury. Hopefully he loosens up for tomorrow and can play in Seattle,” Bednar said.

Mackenzie Blackwood started for the Avs after getting pulled in Dallas two games ago. He let in three goals on his first 10 shots before locking in later in the game. Blackwood made several big stops during the lengthy PK before Nichushkin tied it up. But it still wasn’t enough. Blackwood finished with 20 saves.

The Oilers finished 2-for-4 on the power play, getting the game-winning goal from Connor McDavid on a spectacular give-and-go with Leon Draisaitl with 10:57 remaining in regulation. Both of them finished with two points, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals.

Colorado had a power play after that, but could not capitalize. Necas’ tally came on the PP earlier in the evening, and the Avs finished 1-for-3. Colton’s goal came just 24 seconds into the first period, which snapped his nine-game goalless drought.

All of the Avalanche’s best plays were in the first and third periods. The second was a different story.

“I’ll give you an example, three or four times at the start of the second period, we try to go in on a rush, and we lose it and change, and they get odd-man rushes and a scoring chance against,” Bednar said. “You can’t do that. You can’t do that against anybody, never mind the best offensive team in the league.”

Edmonton also played with a shortened bench. On top of losing Ingram to an injury, forward Colton Dach, and defenseman Ty Emberson also left with ailments and did not return. From the moment MacKinnon was ejected, the pace of the game changed. Frustrations were noticeable on both sides.

“It was a great game up until that,” Nazem Kadri said. “I think it was a good battle out there. Players were playing hard and, you know, it’s unfortunate that’s how it’s gotta end.”

Kadri was also vehemently against the MacKinnon call.

“I think Nate makes an effort. He’s diving across the top of the crease to try to get out of the way, like that’s a part of the rule for the player to at least make some sort of attempt. There was clear contact. I have no idea how that was a five-minute,” he said.

Good: Nichushkin Is Heating Up

When he’s been available to play, there haven’t been many bad stretches for Nichushkin. His on-ice production has been solid over the past three regular seasons. But this year, the 30-year-old veteran forward has had tough stretches. Entering the break, and coming out of it, Nichushkin wasn’t producing at the rate he usually does.

Over the past three games, he’s looked more like the power forward that we’ve grown accustomed to. And he’s gotten rewarded for it on the scoresheet.

Bad: The Penalty

I had a hard time deciphering if it was or wasn’t a penalty on MacKinnon when it first happened. I watched replays, I slowed them down, and I started to form an opinion.

But regardless of whether MacKinnon should’ve been called for anything, it shouldn’t have been a five. That part I can’t wrap my head around.

Bednar was frustrated and asked about it again. He added, “I really don’t give a crap if the goalies hurt. That’s on their D.”

Good:

Bad: Defensive Breakdowns

Each of the first three Edmonton goals were scored by guys that were open in front of the goal. On the first two,

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Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Published

14 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Xcel Energy is warning its customers along the Front Range to be prepared for possible power outages this week as the risk of wildfire surges due to hot and dry weather.

“Due to the elevated risk of wildfire, enhanced powerline safety settings are active across out Front Range service territory,” according to a social media post from the utility. The settings make the powerlines more sensitive and prompt a line to stop the flow of electricity if an object touches a line.

The highest risk for wildfire danger will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when strong gusty winds are forecasted, according to the National Weather Service.

Humidity could be as low as 10% and winds may top 25 mph, leading to critical and extremely critical fire weather between Thursday and Saturday, forecasters said.

Tens of thousands of customers have lost power in recent months from planned outages during fire danger and powerline damage from high winds.

In December, 86,040 Xcel customers lost power because of a mix of planned shutoffs and downed powerlines from high winds. The decision led some customers to criticize the utility, asking it to fine-tune its weather responses.

Some schools in northern Colorado schools preemptively canceled classes in January after Xcel announced a planned power shutoff for 9,000 customers in the area.

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An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers (31-25-8) @ Colorado Avalanche (43-10-9)

8 p.m. MT | Ball Arena | Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After back-to-back shootout victories, the Avalanche concludes its two-game homestand on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. This game is an Avalanche Cup Classic, presented by KeyBank, which will honor the 2022 Avs team that won the Stanley Cup and defeated the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. Tuesday’s game is the second of three regular-season meetings between the teams, as the Avalanche won 9-1 in Edmonton on November 8th, and they’ll play in Alberta on April 13th.

Sunday Success

The Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon and Nicolas Roy both scored for Colorado while Nazem Kadri posted an assist in his second Avs debut. In net for Colorado, Scott Wedgewood stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced. MacKinnon opened the scoring at 12:19 of the second period with his 43rd goal of the season via a right-circle one-timer set up by Kadri, who began the play with an interception below the offensive-zone goal line. Kirill Kaprizov tied the game for Minnesota with a power-play goal at 4:17 of the third period when his pass from the right circle deflected into the net. The Wild took a 2-1 lead at 7:01 of the third period when Nico Sturm scored a shorthanded breakaway. Colorado tied the game at 12:39 of the third period when Nicolas Roy scored his first goal as an Av and sixth of the season via a net-front deflection on Brett Kulak’s slap shot. In the shootout, Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado in the first round, Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota in the second round and MacKinnon tallied the winner in the fourth round.

Leading the Way

Nate the Great

MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (43) while ranking second in points (104) and third in assists (61).

All Hail Cale

Among NHL defensemen, Cale Makar is tied for second in points (66) while ranking fourth in goals (19) and assists (47).

Marty Party

Martin Necas is tied for seventh in the NHL in points (76).

Series History

In 135 regular-season games against the Oilers, the Avalanche has a record of 74-49-6-6. The teams have met three times in the playoffs, with the Avs winning the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals in five games and the 2022 Western Conference Final in four contests.

Sunday in Sin City

The Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday. In the second period, Trent Frederic opened the scoring for Edmonton at 3:21 before Vegas’ Noah Hanifin tied the game at 13:09. The Oilers took a 3-1 third-period lead after goals from Vasily Podkolzin at 2:34 and Leon Draisaitl at 11:53. Jack Eichel cut the Golden Knights’ deficit to one with a shorthanded goal at 16:43 of the third period. Edmonton took a 4-2 lead when Kasperi Kapanen scored an empty-net goal at 18:03 of the third period.