Avalanche Journal: Colorado’s Power Play Is Attacking Differently, But Results Are Still Great

Denver Post sports writer Corey Masisak opens up the Avs Mailbag periodically throughout the season. Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag. What’s the latest on Gabe Landeskog? Will we get to see him play this year? It’s weird to have our captain be someone who hasn’t played on the ice in two years.

Sean Payton loves October more than pumpkins. He is the NFL’s all-time winningest coach this month. And, before you ask, it is not just a New Orleans thing. Payton is 5-3 in Denver, including wins over the Chiefs, Packers and Raiders. He owns a 47-19 career record in October. His 71.2 winning percentage ranks first.

The Avalanche has scored the second-most power-play goals in the NHL since Cale Makar joined Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen to form arguably the sport’s best three-headed monster. Colorado is missing 40% of its first-choice power-play unit, and even top backup options are missing. And yet, the Avs are still eighth in the NHL this season in goals per game despite missing more than $20 million worth of forwards largely because the power play remains terrifying. While Colorado’s proficiency is only third at 39.3%, the Avs have scored 11 power-play goals in eight games.

LOVELAND — After years of playing above its weight, Pomona football is finally in the correct classification. Translation: Pomona is now ready to pad its pigskin tradition while re-emerging as a perennial state title contender. The Panthers, who long competed up in Class 5A above their numbers, moved down to 3A for the 2024-26 enrollment cycle and the effect has been immediate.

By BETH HARRIS LOS ANGELES (AP) — A nail-biter all night with a Hollywood ending. Game 1 of Yankees-Dodgers certainly delivered. Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a drama-filled opener Friday. “Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled. Hobbled by a badly sprained right ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — a 92 mph inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared. “I cannot believe what just happened,” Roberts said.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Friday that receiver Josh Reynolds is doing OK but “pretty shaken up” after being shot last week. “He’s fortunate,” Payton told reporters after Denver’s Friday practice. “Obviously the league and the local authorities are handling that. I’ve had a chance to talk with him. He was pretty shaken up, and I’ll leave it at that.” Reynolds was shot last Friday in Denver.