The speed and skill of the Avalanche can be breathtaking to behold — as it was in the first two periods of Tuesday night’s 8-6 victory over Edmonton to begin the Western Conference Finals.
But it can also be a double-edged sword against like-styled teams in the postseason.
A track meet tends to develop at Ball Arena, in particular.
Colorado entered Thursday’s Game 2 of the conference finals against the Oilers having seen big leads shrink or disappear entirely in its last two games at home.
The Avs led the Blues 3-0 in Game 5 of the conference semifinals but lost 5-4 in overtime. And in Tuesday’s Game 1 against Edmonton, they led 7-3 before the lead dwindled to 7-6 late in the third period.
How do the Avs intend to defend moving forward against the like-style Oilers, who have NHL superstar scorer Connor McDavid on their side? Will the Avs try to slow the game down to prevent another track meet?
“It’s sometimes easier said than done,” Avs forward Andrew Cogliano said of defending teams that play a similar north-south style. “Teams are so good. They make things happen because they’re here for a reason. For us, we just need to be harder in certain situations, getting pucks out and being hard around the walls. They’re just plays that need to be made. It’s all about heart and that’s usually what it takes in those situations so things don’t get out of control and they get momentum.”
Cogliano, 34, is in his ninth postseason. He entered Thursday with 108 career games of experience in the playoffs and said today’s game is so much faster than when he entered the league in 2007.
And that’s partly why playoff leads are never safe.
“The pace is just at another level. My first couple years, first couple playoffs, it was a lot more grinding, a lot more chipping, chase, and putting pucks in and wanting to cycle teams and play physical,” Cogliano said. “We play L.A. and some of those teams and they were just beasts. Sometimes it wasn’t really hockey. It was more of a physical battle. It’s still at that stage now, but I feel like the pace is just at another level.
“It’s a game where you’re up and down the ice. When teams get zone time they usually don’t give it up because guys are so talented and skilled and they play one-on-one so well. And the players are just faster.”
To defend McDavid and his line, Colorado defenseman Devon Toews said “little picks” are a must.
“If they dump the puck we want our forwards to set little picks for us, to give us time and space. (Defensemen) too. So if I have a chance to get in (McDavid’s) way to give Cale (Makar) or whoever a little bit more time to make a play back there, we’ll do it. It’s going to take a whole group effort. Everybody’s got to chip in on it.”
Kuemper out. Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper was ruled out of Game 2 because of the upper-body injury he sustained early in the second period of Game 2.
Pavel Francouz, who replaced Kuemper, will make his fourth postseason appearance and second start. He will be backed up by rookie Justus Annunen.
“We have a lot of confidence in Frankie,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after declining to talk in detail about Kuemper’s injury. “He’s played really well for us over the last few years, (including) stepping into this situation in the Nashville series. He did a great job for us coming in the other night. We are completely confident he can get the job done.”
Francouz replaced Kuemper in Game 3 against Nashville after Kuemper sustained an eye injury late in the first period. The Avs went on to sweep the first-round series with Francouz playing the entire Game 4.
