Facing their first elimination game, the Avalanche played with the intensity and desperation that was required to keep their season alive, and their hard work paid off. The Avalanche will face off once again in the Shart Tank on Wednesday night in a deciding Game 7. (See, I told you so!)
As captain Gabe Landeskog said, the Avs wanted to play with no regrets. It was either win, and force a Game 7, or else it was the beginning of golf season. And why would you want it to be golf season when you can have more playoff hockey? The Avs stayed true to their intention, putting it all out on the ice, and they were able to get the “W”. While the Avs never trailed in the game, the Sharks were relentless, and wouldn’t let up. The Avs took a one-goal lead three separate times, and each time the Sharks came back.
The first half of the game would shape up much in the same way as Game 5, but this time with the Avs controlling the tempo of the game. The first period would once again be tied at one, and Jost would get the first goal of the game. However, Vlasic would tie it up at 14:36 of the second. On a side note, every time I hear Vlasic’s name, I am reminded of Vlasic pickles. Do you think Marc-Edouard Vlasic has any relation to America’s favorite pickle brand, Vlasic? I suppose it is unlikely that a French Canadian native to Montreal is somehow related to the early 20th Century immigrant from Bosnia, Fanjo Vlasic, who started a small creamery that would eventually turn into the household pickle brand we all know today. Personally, I prefer the zesty dill spear. If Edouard is distantly related, he probably would be in the bread and butter pickle family. Yuck.
Anyways, why am I talking about pickles when the season is on the line? With the game tied at one, Compher got the go-ahead-goal late in the second, and the Avs were about to enter the third period 2-1. However, Brent Burns and his man bun would score the equalizer less than two minutes later, and we would end the period tied at two. Four minutes into the third, Compher nabbed his second goal of the game, and the Avs were back in the lead. This time, the Avs were able to hold the lead for most of the period, but it wouldn’t be quite long enough. Our pickle foe, Vlasic, would get another game tying goal with less than three minutes left in the game. With the score tied 3-3; the Avs and Sharks would head into their first OT of the series.
Entering overtime, the Mac, Mikko and Landy line had not only been kept scoreless, but were also -3 for the night. However, it only took 2:32 into OT for Landeskog to take the wrist shot that would go past Jones for the game-winner, getting him his first overtime playoff goal. It doesn’t get much better than having our captain, who has not been able to generate much offensively, score the game-winning goal that forces the Game 7. Which would explain my ecstatic jubilation, where my boyfriend had to remind to stop jumping around when it was 1 A.M. because we live on the second floor of an old house turned apartment, where you can practically hear if the neighbors fart. Sorry, I’m not sorry?
The Avs will enter the Shart Tank again on Wednesday night, and will be coming in with the momentum in their favor. It won’t be an easy game, but I know that the Avs will continue to play with the same enthusiasm as Game 6, and it will be that determination, and perhaps the overconfidence from the Sharks, that leads to our victory. Puck drops at 9 P.M. Eastern and I probably should apologize in advance to my neighbors. It’s Game 7 and I can’t control myself, nor would I want to. The only thing better than winning an elimination game, is winning an elimination game when it is a Game 7. I can’t wait to drain the tank and move on to Round 3, see you in the Western Conference Finals. Let’s Go Avs!