{"id":493952,"date":"2026-07-26T07:55:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T11:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=493952"},"modified":"2026-07-25T21:29:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T01:29:31","slug":"colorado-avalanche-unlikely-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/07\/26\/colorado-avalanche-unlikely-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Series: The Colorado Avalanche Unlikely Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The game of hockey, like all sports, is filled with heroes. Most of the time, it is the superstars who have a reputation for coming up clutch. However, we are here to talk about the heroic performances that seem to come from nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip in with a massive, Stanley Cup Playoff series-clinching goal, or maybe it is a season-long performance, the likes of which will never be seen again. These unlikely heroes become a part of hockey history. Today, we bring you our\u00a0<\/span>Last Word On Hockey<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>summer series<\/a>, as we look at the\u00a0<\/span>Colorado Avalanche<\/a> Unlikely Heroes<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Colorado Avalanche Unlikely Heroes<\/h2>\n

The Criteria<\/h3>\n

Some wonder what makes an unlikely hero. It can be a player who comes with a massive improvement out of nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip in with a massive goal or a goaltender shutout that wasn\u2019t expected. It can also be a player who steps up and has a season to remember. An unlikely hero can be a player who\u2019s a youngster who gives a breakthrough performance. It can also be a star player who gives one last flash of greatness.<\/p>\n

Uwe Krupp<\/a><\/h3>\n

Background<\/h4>\n

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(Credit Image: \u00a9 Rick Giase\/ZUMA Press)<\/em><\/p>\n

One thing about Colorado is that they’ve got plenty of big goals from primetime players. In The Athletic’s look<\/a> at most unlikely overtime goalscorers, the Avs tend to get their goals from star players. Joe Sakic<\/a> has eight OT winners in franchise history. (This includes Quebec Nordiques<\/a>, which we won’t reference in this piece in a similar rule that we did with the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> when it came to the Hartford Whalers<\/a>.) However, there are some Colorado Avalanche unlikely heroes to talk about.<\/p>\n

The one that jumps out to most is that of German defenceman, Uwe Krupp. He was one of the original Avalanche players that moved from Quebec City, Quebec to Denver, Colorado. Krupp only appeared in six games and logged three assists as he dealt with injuries that season. However, the former All-Star with the Buffalo Sabres would make a franchise-altering impact in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Moment<\/h4>\n

Colorado had finally taken off after acquiring former Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy<\/a>. The Avalanche came out of the Western Conference after laying the groundwork for a hostile rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings. However, the Avalanche would be playing the upstart Florida Panthers<\/a> in the Cup Final. Many thought the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> or the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> would represent the Eastern Conference. However, the Cats rode great goaltending and timely goals to reach its first Final.<\/p>\n