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Keeler: Can Avalanche win Stanley Cup without Gabe Landeskog? Colorado’s new forwards have zero doubts.

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Keeler: Can Avalanche win Stanley Cup without Gabe Landeskog? Colorado’s new forwards have zero doubts.


Big Val Nichushkin wasn’t the only one who vanished. According to Moneypuck.com, the Colorado Avalanche last spring trotted out six offensive combos that logged at least 10 minutes of postseason ice time without stars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

In seven games, those six lines gave up (checks notes) three goals and scored (checks notes again) … once.

Good night, Irene. And hello, Cancun.

“Nate and Mikko are very elite,” new Avs left winger Jonathan Drouin told me earlier this week in advance of Colorado’s season-opening puck drop at Los Angeles on Wednesday night. “And on a lot of those nights, they’re going to be players to make the difference.

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“There’s going to be nights where somebody has to step up. And I think that’s that we have and the new guys we brought in … we’re going to have to make sure that secondary scoring is there, and we’re helping these two top guys not have to carry the whole team all year.”

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) takes a moment after stoppage during the game against the Minnesota Wild in the second period at Ball Arena March 29, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Godspeed, oh Captain, our Captain.

We learned last year that the Avs, cursed with the mother of all Lord Stanley Hangovers and beat up like an ’86 Cutlass, were still good enough to win a division without Gabe Landeskog.

Are they good enough to win a playoff series without him, though, if it comes to that?

“It’s a mindset thing,” offered Avs center Ross Colton, a fresh import from the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I think teams that want to win, will win.

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“I think it’s the mindset we always had (in Tampa). We never looked at the other team’s lineup or opposing team. I think we were always comfortable with the team that we were throwing out there. We trusted all four lines.

“And I think obviously, guys are going to get more minutes than others, but I think at any point in any single game, if we were chucking a different line out there, we knew they were going to do their job. It wasn’t about points or anything like that. It was (about) being physical, faceoffs, penalty killing, stuff like that. So it goes a long way.”

DENVER, CO - JUNE 15: Ross Colton (79) of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
DENVER, CO – JUNE 15: Ross Colton (79) of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Colton sees that same mindset here. Alas, mindset won’t solve dead legs come April.

The Avs looked physically spent in last year’s first-round exit, fried from a parade of injuries, slowed by the scars of taking everybody’s best shot for months at a time. Fumes weren’t going to beat a plucky bunch of Kraken, yet fumes were all they had left.

Landeskog’s season-long absence and the free-agent loss of Nazem Kadri left Colorado top-heavy. The Avs were a division champion with enough wheels for one marathon but minus the shock absorbers to withstand the grind of a second, when the savvy coaches can chuck some gimmicks — or a run of goons —  onto the ice to take stars out and dare someone else to step up.

The ’22 Avs could kill you in about 14 different ways. By the time the ’23 postseason rolled around, they were down to roughly five or six. Seattle knew it.

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Which brings us back to depth, to guys not named Nate or Mikko being able to pick up the flag and carry it past the likes of Vegas, L.A., Dallas and Edmonton.

“When you go down to those last couple of weeks of playoffs, where it’s that grind, you’re going to need all four lines to be going,” Drouin stressed. “I know some lines play less than others, but … every line has a job to do. Every line has something to do.”

Especially in the playoffs. What’s the old adage? Your top two lines can carry you through the regular season, but your bottom two will determine how far you run through the postseason meat-grinder.

Per Moneypuck.com, the ’22 Cup champs featured nine offensive lines that played at least 10 minutes with either MacKinnon or Rantanen. Those lines outscored the opposition 25-21. The Avs’ other 11 forward combinations won their shifts by a score of 15-4. The Burgundy and Blue came at you in cruel, merciless waves.

“Good teams have a good four lines and they’re each chipping in at a different time,” new Avs winger Tomas Tatar, a veteran of Vegas’ Cup Final run in 2018, told me. “It’s hard to put all that pressure on one line — there might be an injury, there might be something, so you need the depth through the season as well. And it’s a tough job to get to the playoffs, but that’s the time you want to play.”

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That’s the time you want Landy, although it’s an awfully big ask for a 30-year-old coming off three knee procedures in 19 months. Still, Avs GM Chris MacFarland is keeping the postseason door open, if only by a crack. For good reason.

The Avs’ five postseason lines in ’22 that skated at least 10 minutes with the captain outscored foes by a whopping count of 21-9. That’s a margin of 12 goals, just begging for a hero. Or three.

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Colorado

Christmas lights at risk from horned deer, Colorado warned

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Christmas lights at risk from horned deer, Colorado warned


This holiday season, festive decorations may be at risk of being ripped down by an surprising culprit.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has warned residents of the state that they are receiving large numbers of calls from people who have had deer getting their antlers tangled up in their Christmas decorations and other yard equipment.

While deer are usually rather clumsy creatures, they become much more erratic and aggression-prone at this time of year, as they are frantically searching for a mate.

“Our wildlife officers respond to calls every year of deer stuck in various netting and holiday decorations,” CPW Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta said in a statement.

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Mule deer buck tangled in Christmas lights. Colorado residents are advised not to hang lights on trees, and ensure they are at least 8 feet above the ground.

Alan Ziff / CPW

Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns residents that male deer may find themselves getting tangled up in swing sets, sports netting, hosepipes, Christmas lights and even bicycles during the rut season.

There are two main types of deer native to Colorado: mule deer and white-tailed deer. The rut of both species typically peaks in mid to late November and can extend into late December in some areas.

During the rut, bucks are highly active and display behaviors aimed at attracting does and establishing dominance over other males. This can include traveling extensively, often during daylight, and also engaging in sparring or even full-blown fights to establish dominance and breeding rights.

This activity is how the male deer end up getting tangled up in things like Christmas lights.

“In some cases, these hazards prevent the deer from being able to eat and breathe. Additionally, this causes high levels of stress on the animal and can lead to fatality,” Archuleta said.

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The public is advised to ensure holiday decorations and lights are firmly attached to solid structures, and hung at least eight feet from the ground. Hanging the lights on trees or bushes is discouraged, as the deer often rub their antlers against plants or tree trunks to sharpen them during the rut.

If you encounter a deer that has become tangled or trapped, you should not attempt to free it yourself, as the deer are often increasingly aggressive at this time of year.

“When deer do become entangled, it is important for the public to call their closest CPW office quickly with location information,” Archuleta said.

“People should never try to free deer of these hazards themselves because of the serious risk of injury that can be caused by antlers and hooves.”

Additionally, deer can carry diseases such as chronic wasting disease, tuberculosis and acidosis. This is why it is illegal to feed wild deer in Colorado.

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“Attracting deer can concentrate them in small spaces, making disease easier to spread, attracting predators, and causing them to lose their natural fear of people,” the CPW warn on their website.

During the rut, deer may be seen on the roads more frequently, so drivers are also advised to keep an eye out.

“Drivers are also reminded to slow down and be on the lookout for deer on highways. Not only are bucks in pursuit of a mate, but animals are also migrating to winter range and will be more present crossing roadways both on highways and arterial roadways,” the CPW said in the statement.

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about deer? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

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Town Council in Colorado’s Castle Rock approves measure expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies

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Town Council in Colorado’s Castle Rock approves measure expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies


Castle Rock council approves measure supporting President-elect Trump’s immigration policies

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Castle Rock council approves measure supporting President-elect Trump’s immigration policies

00:48

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The Castle Rock Town Council on Tuesday approved a measure expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The measure also expresses a willingness to lawfully cooperate with federal immigration officials in implementing policies in the Colorado municipality.

All of the council at the evening meeting voted in favor of the resolution, except for one council person who abstained. Right before the vote, the council members referenced the violence that has been happening in Aurora at an apartment complex.

Earlier this year the council voted unanimously to explore suing the city of Denver over its migrant policies.

Trump has selected Tom Homan to be his “border czar” and he recently blasted Denver Mayor Mike Johnston for his opposition to planned mass deportations and willingness to use civil disobedience to ignore deportation orders for Denver residents.

“Look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing. He’s willing to go to jail. I’m willing to put him in jail,” Homan said last month.

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Man arrested at Colorado trail on several charges after guns, police impersonation items found in his car

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Man arrested at Colorado trail on several charges after guns, police impersonation items found in his car


CLEAR CREEK, Colo. (KKTV) – The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said they spotted a suspicious vehicle with a fake license plate and covered VIN parked in a dirt lot in Silver Plume on Monday.

After eventually getting the VIN, deputies said they identified the owner of the car, 40-year-old Brian Cope, who had a warrant from Summit County for failure to comply and was reported to have violent tendencies.

Deputies said they then saw him walking down a mountain trail towards them. Cope then reportedly placed an item behind a rock before being spoken to by deputies. Cope was then arrested on the Summit County warrant without further issues.

Deputies then checked behind the rock, finding a handgun. Cope’s vehicle was to be towed due to the fake plates, so deputies said they also did an inventory check of the vehicle.

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Inside the car, deputies said they found a loaded, short-barreled rifle without a serial number, six high-capacity magazines, multiple boxes of ammunition, a Kevlar tactical vest with metal plates, a tactical helmet, a police scanner, a federal law enforcement replica badge, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

After the search of Cope’s car, deputies said he is also facing charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, impersonating a peace officer, two counts of a violation of a protection order, unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, prohibited large capacity magazine, possession of burglary tools and three counts of drug paraphernalia. The 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is scheduled to determine the final charges.



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