Denver’s pro sports teams are taking down historical bests the way Oprah used to give away cars. You get a record! And you get a record! And you get a record!
Late Thursday night, it was the Avalanche’s turn, as a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers improved Colorado’s Ball Arena record to 8-0-2 and overall mark to 14-1-5.
That one regulation loss puts the burgundy and blue in elite company: In NHL history, your Avs are one of just four teams to sport just one regulation loss (they’ve dropped five games in overtime) over their first 20 games of a season. The last team to pull that off was the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks, who put up a ridiculous 17-0-3 mark to open a lockout-shortened campaign. That club went on to win the Presidents’ Trophy, the Western Conference, and the Stanley Cup. So: Good sign? Or the best sign?
Broncos, Avs rocking history books — A-minus
Either way, it got the Grading The Week (GTW) staff thinking, which is always a dangerous proposition. Specifically, are we staring at the greatest Thanksgiving ever to be a Mile High Sports fan?
As of Friday afternoon, both the Broncos (9-2), who are on a bye after sending the hated Chiefs (5-5) into a death spiral, and the Avs sat in first place within the AFC West and NHL Central Divisions, respectively.
The last time both franchises were atop their respective divisions on the same Nov. 20?
It’s been a while. Twenty-eight years, in fact. Nov. 20, 1997.
Those Broncos, the stuff of Mile High legend, went on to win a Super Bowl for John (Elway). Those Avs won their division, the franchise’s third straight since moving from Quebec. But Colorado got upset in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by seventh-seeded Edmonton.
It’s early, especially for the surging Avs and Nuggets (11-3 as of Friday). But if there’s a lesson in all this winning and history hitting us at once, it’s to enjoy the ride.
Wil Lutz extension — A
The Broncos’ money man got paid.
The biggest winner of the Front Range Week That Was might well be Denver placekicker Wil Lutz, who:
• Nailed all five of his field-goal attempts against the Chiefs on Sunday;
• Nailed a 54-yarder against the Chiefs to tie the game in the fourth quarter at 19-19 (also Sunday);
• Nailed the game-winner as time expired for a 22-19 win that buried the Chiefs (also also Sunday), his third of the season;
• Was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday;
• Received a three-year contract extension on Friday.
At 31, Lutz has earned the trust of Broncos Country. He’s perfect on chip shots (12 for 12 from 39 yards out or closer) and a fair bet on long drives (3 for 5 from 50 yards out or longer). The veteran’s eight fourth-quarter field goals (on nine tries) were tied for tops in the NFL after Week 11. More importantly, he’s got the trust of coach Sean Payton, his old Saints coach, who dealt away a seventh-round pick in August 2023 in order to bring Lutz west. Pretty shrewd. A great defense and a reliable kicking game are a killer combination to take with you on the road. Especially in the postseason, when points can get precious.
Denver: College soccer capital of the world? — A
We know how well the Front Range does hockey. But could the Mile High City soon have a collegiate national soccer champion? Or, better yet, multiple ones in the same autumn? Big tip of the GTW cap to the CU Buffs women’s soccer team (17-3-3), which routed Xavier 4-1 this past Thursday to advance to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. While the Buffs will try to march on at Michigan State on Sunday morning, the DU men’s soccer team (12-7-2) will be looking to do the same in their respective bracket on Sunday night at Portland.
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