While you were watching the Broncos, the Cup champions were on the ice

The state of Colorado was locked in on the Broncos on Sunday night. And rightfully so.

Denver escaped San Francisco with an ugly 11-10 win, improving to 2-1 on the season and tying the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West.

But just down the road, something else was going on.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche opened their preseason with not one, but two games. It was a split squad Sunday, with one group in Minnesota taking on the Wild and another at Ball Arena battling the Vegas Golden Knights. The team up North lost 3-2 in overtime. The squad in Denver won 3-1.

None of Colorado’s biggest names took the ice. There were no Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen sightings. However, new goalie Alexandar Georgiev made his debut in Denver and guys like J.T. Compher and Bowen Byram scored goals against Vegas. It wasn’t the A-list players on the ice, but still names fans will know.

Ring ring 📞

J.T. here, calling with 877-GOALS-NOW!

We take the lead, 2-1.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/OjtxkWgF7O

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 26, 2022

It’s absolutely nuts hockey is already back. The parade to celebrate Colorado’s first title since 2001 was fewer than three months ago in downtown Denver. We say this was the shortest offseason ever, because, well, it was the shortest offseason ever.

The real deal starts on October 12, when the Avs host the Blackhawks to start the 2022-23 season. That night will be special, with Colorado raising the championship banner to the rafters at Ball Arena. For now, it’s still just preseason, but last night was a legitimate NHL game. It just so happened to be while the Broncos were also playing.

Buckle up, the fun has begun all over again.

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