New Years, New Wins: The Avalanche’s January

By: Maeve Hushman, Staff Writer

Since we arrived in the New Year, the Avs have had a 15-0-1 record and have a home winning streak of 18 home games. They were the first team to hit 30 wins, are the top of the league, and continue to get praise from hockey pundits around the media. So, let’s take a look at the Avalanche’s January. 

Things to fix: The Avalanche in a lot of their most recent games have spent the first two periods behind on the score sheet or have blown a lead and had to come back. Now, because this team is as offensively deep as it is, they can pretty reliably out score their problems. However, it isn’t a good strategy in general. Look at the Edmonton Oilers, who started the season one of the best teams in the league rarely scoring the first goal and now are rapidly dropping in the standings. Relying on the offense to constantly bail you out is not a dependable strategy. It all goes back to the Avalanche’s inability to play a full 60 minutes of hockey.  They either start dominant, then drop off, blow the lead, and then fight back (like in the game against the Wild) or they start slow and have to come back in the second half of the game. 

The Avalanche have the best PDO in the league right now and a higher than normal shooting percentage (per JFreshHockey). Since the Avalanche are scoring at a much higher rate than expected, it means that their PDO is high. PDO has to do with luck, so it always regresses back to the mean as does high shooting percentage. All of that is just a fancy way of saying that the offense is not always going to score at this rate. 

The Avalanche dominate when they get the other team to play their game, but sometimes they fall into the trap of playing the game of the opposing team. The Avalanche are all about speed and offense, while other teams want to slow down the game which makes the Avalanche more susceptible to making mistakes. In their rematch against the Leafs, for the first half the Leafs controlled the game and forced the Avalanche to play the way they wanted. When the Avs started to come back they forced the Leafs to play their game. No one plays the Avalanche’s game better than the Avs. 

Net front defense continues to be a problem and nowhere was that seen more than the game against the Kraken. Two of the goals scored by the Kraken in that game were scored at the net front. The Avalanche need to get better at moving players out of the net front. So many times players are allowed time in space in front of the Avs net and they either score or they are used as a screen which also leads to goals against. In the playoffs, goals are scored in front of the net as games get played tighter and more defensively stringent. If the net front is left undefended, they will feel it most in those tight playoff situations. 

Nathan MacKinnon was injured in the Bruins game by Taylor Hall and will need to have nose surgery. He will miss the All-Star game but hopefully be back in the line up after the All-Star break is over. MacKinnon has had horrible injury luck this season. He was just starting to heat back up before this hit by Hall. However, losing MacKinnon shouldn’t hurt the Avs too much because of the way the rest of the line up has been 

Positives: Honestly, everything else. This team is an absolute powerhouse that always finds ways to win. MacKinnon looks like he forces the game to his will. The whole first line look like world beaters and with the rate that they are scoring they probably are. Nazem Kadri continues to be on fire. Everyone on this team is playing their part and helping this team get to victory. Despite the concerns brought up in the last section, this team is almost completely perfect. 

The Avalanche’s offense has been lethal. It is deep and prolific, constantly able to bail the Avalanche out at every turn and this goes beyond the forward group. Cale Makar has been unreal and will be going to the All-Star game. He is generating offense and creating more scoring threats for the Avalanche, which should help them from regressing too much when their PDO goes back down to the mean. The Avs D-core has looked incredible lately, which it is. It saves the Avs when the passes to nowhere start becoming a prevalent problem in the game. 

One plus of the Avalanche’s continued comeback victories is that it shows mental toughness and resilience. They keep fighting and do not give up no matter the score. That determination keeps them competitive. It is a good sign when it comes to the mindset of the Avs, they won’t let things get them discouraged. They will always keep fighting. 

Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz have both looked incredible in net. Francouz has had two shutouts in the past few games and Kuemper made JFreshHockey’s list of statistically best goalies this season so far. That goaltending tandem has looked shaky at times but is coming into their own and have played a series of strong games. 

Conclusion:The Avalanche are the best team in the league hands down, but they are also riding a wave of high PDO and unreal offense. No team is 100% perfect, the Avalanche come pretty close. If they keep up this tenacity, resilience, and ability to find a way then they will be in good shape to win the President’s Trophy again this year.

Introducing… Bucket lists!

By: Sofia Flores, Staff Photographer

Ever need ideas on what to do in your free time? Look no further! Here at The Highlander, we are going to be starting a new tradition. Every month, we will be publishing a monthly bucket list where you will be given ideas on what to do for each day. Of course, you will be given the option to pick what you want to do for the day. Once you have completed the task, post it on your Instagram story and include the hashtag #RUHighlander to be featured on our account. We would love to see your creations and can’t wait to see what y’all come up with! Have fun!

In The Bachelor, We Trust

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

As a melodramatic reality television show with a questionable premise and a hearty dose of misogyny, The Bachelor truly serves as a paradigm of American entertainment. For anybody unfamiliar with this show, The Bachelor essentially picks a multitude of women to compete for the heart of a handsome, eligible man who has been named as the “bachelor.” The show continues over multiple weeks, as the women and bachelor go on both group dates and one-on-one dates. At the end of the season, the bachelor will select one woman whom he can either propose to or simply continue a relationship with.

Like every reality television show based around romance, The Bachelor is packed to the brim with drama and problematic elements. A lot of the show centers around villainizing certain women (sometimes rightfully so), broadcasting contestants’ vulnerable moments to the entire nation, and purposefully generating conflict between the contestants. However, this is nothing new to those familiar with the world of reality television; every producer needs to get their ratings up somehow. So, why does Bachelor Nation (the nickname given to fans of The Bachelor) remain alive and well?

America’s obsession with this show makes complete sense when you think about it. Where else could you watch a show where a man will passionately confess his deep attraction to a woman and then make out with five different women immediately afterwards? What other television show could stir up so much drama over a bowl of shrimp? Could any other show top the insane way that the contestants will attempt to win over the bachelor? One woman introduced herself to this season’s bachelor, Clayton, by showing him a pillow plastered with a poorly cropped image of his face. In the scenes following, the cameras showed her passionately making out with the pillow.

On top of that, the producers of the show don’t ever miss out on a chance to strip down both the bachelor or the contestants (as proven by the latest episode’s beach scene and scavenger hunt through downtown Los Angeles in their underwear). Fans are almost always treated to a close up of a contestant’s thighs or the bachelor’s muscles between every ad break. 

While the show’s host always introduces the season as a way for the current bachelor to find love, any audience member can see that the show actively highlights the ludicrous nature of its own premise. Perhaps it’s this unintentionally satirical nature of the show that continues drawing viewers season after season.

Tips for Managing Stress

By: Labina Tasfia, Staff Writer

With the third week of the semester coming to an end and the classes picking up the pace, I wanted to focus on healthy ways to manage stress. It’s common to be stressed out with homework and assignments. I have been super anxious about a two-minute speech for my communication class recently, so much so that I couldn’t focus on anything else (public speaking is not my forte if you couldn’t tell). I realized many of you are probably going through something similar, if not now then maybe in the future. So, I wanted to provide some tips to help, even if only a little, with managing stress levels and mental health. Here are some things that have helped me throughout the years to keep my mental health positive and the stress under control.

Set up clear boundaries. Boundaries are extremely important if you want to maintain mental health. You need to set up boundaries for yourself and those around you, not according to the person you wish to become in the future, but the person you are now at present. You need your friends and family, and most importantly yourself, to know who you are, what you are capable of at the moment, and what your goals are. 

Set realistic goals. We all have things we want to accomplish in a day, but not all of them are realistic. That is why I recommend starting by making micro-goals, things you know you can accomplish today. After becoming more accustomed to following through with those micro-goals, start to make bigger goals. For example, what you want to accomplish in a week, then in a month and so on, but take it slow. If you can’t fulfil every single goal, don’t beat yourself up over it. Nothing is worth more than your happiness and mental health.

Plan out your day according to your goals. Planning out how you wish to go about your day can help motivate you. The plan doesn’t need to be precise, but it should give you a rough idea of what needs to be done by when. This way, you will be able to waste less time deciding what to do and have more time not only to work but also take breaks.

Always leave time for self-care. Taking care of your physical health is just as important as your grades. So, make self-care a priority. This doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to go to the gym almost every day. Taking time to do small things like brushing your hair, taking a hot shower (remember not to waste too much water though), and meditating at the end of a busy day can do wonders for your mental health and overall mood. If you go to sleep feeling relaxed, you can start your day feeling refreshed.

Practice gratitude. You deserve gratitude for all the hard work you do every day, and that is why you should always thank yourself at the end of the day for everything you accomplished. Being self-critical is good, but excessive criticism can do more harm than good. That is why instead of focusing too much on what you failed to do during the day, try to focus on what you did do. You can keep a notebook where you write down all the things you did that made you happy and the things you wish to improve in the future. Writing these down can have tremendous effect on not only your mental health but also your self-confidence.

These were some of the things that have helped me throughout the years, and I hope they help all of you too. Always remember, grades are important, but they aren’t worth sacrificing your mental health and well-being for. So, try to find a balance between the two that works best for you. 

What to Do When You’re Alone for Christmas

By Sofia Flores, Staff Photographer/ Writer

Some of us will be surrounded by loved ones this Christmas and will have some company to celebrate with. However, there are also some that will be alone this Christmas. 

A lot of the time, being alone on Christmas is seen from a negative point of view, it has been evident in the media that there is a stigma on loneliness. Little did you know, there are some positives that come from being alone on Christmas.

I have included some tips for those of you that need ideas on how to spend your Christmas. I hope you have a day filled with joy, see you in the new year!

1. Do Something That You Enjoy

A great way to start off the day, especially Christmas day, is to do something that you enjoy. For some it is painting, and for others it may be binge-watching Netflix or having a movie day! Whatever it is, do it! What will put you in a better mood than doing what you love! 

2. Treat Yourself

Don’t hold back, and treat yourself! You want a new coat? Buy it! Wanna binge watch your new show? Watch it! Don’t feel guilty about treating yourself on your special day. You deserve it. 

3. Stay Off Social Media

If you plan on having a relaxed, fun-filled day; stay off of social media. Seeing your Christmas-themed feed will most likely lead to sadness and feeling lonely. Take this opportunity to have a social media detox and put your mental-health first. 

4. Write Goals For 2022

This time will be perfect to focus on your goals for next year. Take advantage of the peace and quiet and really reflect on the goals you want to set for yourself. Remember: put you and your health first. 

5. Volunteer

It has been proven that helping others puts you in a better mood. It makes you focus on others and not on the negative feelings that might be creeping in, such as loneliness. There are many ways you can help others such as volunteering at a food bank or giving meals to the people who are homeless.