👋 Good Morning!

I hope you all enjoy a stress-free weekend where you can know that no matter what happens with Sunday’s games, you’ll wake up on Monday with the Denver Broncos in first place in the AFC West.

— Justin Michael

The Colorado Avalanche are on pace for one of the more impressive regular seasons that we’ve ever seen in the NHL.

Last night the Avs became the fourth team in NHL history to lose just one game in regulation through the first 20 matchups of a season. And although it’s unlikely they will stay this scorching hot for all 82 games, at the moment they’re on pace to finish with more than 130 points, which would be top 5 all-time. The Avs are on pace for a top 10 season in total wins as well.

With Thursday’s 6-3 win over the New York Rangers, Colorado has now won seven straight and is looking like an absolute juggernaut going into the holiday season. The power play still needs some work and the depth is going to be tested with Nichushkin and Brindley both going down. But the Avs have done a really nice job of establishing themselves as the frontrunner in the West.

It’s easy to get used to greatness. What we’re seeing this team do on a nightly basis isn’t normal though.

The crazy thing is the intended starting goaltender and the guy who will assumingely be in net this postseason has barely seen the ice. If Mackenzie Blackwood can hit his stride again as well, this group is going to have a legitimate chance to make history.

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READ: The Avalanche are dreaming big, & everyone else is losing sleep

Rod Smith is one of my all-time favorite players. It was awesome hearing him chop it up with Dave Logan and Bennie Fowler on the latest episode of X’s & O’s.

WATCH: Broncos win biggest game in 10 years, Bo Nix’s improvement & more

Peyton Watson exploded for 32 points the other night.

I constantly have to remind myself how young he is. It really feels like he’s putting the pieces together this season though.

READ: Peyton Watson reaches new heights alongside Nikola Jokić