“The Second Round Slump” has ended. For the first time in two decades, the Avalanche have advanced to the Western Conference Finals and will faceoff against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
Getting to the Third Round didn’t come easy, but the Avs skated away with a 4-2 series win on Friday night in a show-stopping finish to end the St. Louis Blues’ season. The Avalanche outplayed the Blues for most of the series, outshooting them 217-158 but only outscoring them 22-18. The Blues put up a solid fight, responded well to the Avs bombardment, and answered back after their Game 1 loss, winning Game 2 on the road and causing the Avs’ first loss of the playoffs, as well as coming back from a 3-0 deficit to capture Game 5. However, it wasn’t enough.
Unlike previous seasons, the Avs made adjustments that paid off, winning Games 3 and 4 on the road. Game 3 proved to be the most contested of the six-game match-up, which saw the saw loss of Blues’ netminder Jordan Binnington and Av defenseman Samuel Girard both on controversial plays. Girard went out first after an early hit in the game on the boards by Ivan Barbashev that sent him to the hospital with a broken sternum. No penalty was assessed, and Girard will be out for the remainder of the playoff. The loss of the 5’10 defenseman is unfortunate for the Avs as he was playing well, but perhaps more notable was the injury to Binnington later that period.
Nazem Kadri and Blues’ Calle Rosen crashed the net in an unfortunate play, chasing a loose puck, resulting in a knee injury to the Blues’ top goaltender. Due to Kadri's sordid past, and previous suspension due to a hit on Faulk, Kadri became the focal of controversy and hatred from Blues fans. Like Barbashev’s hit, no penalty was assessed, and watching the replay, in no way does it appear that Kadri intentionally injured Binnington. Entering Game 4 after racist death threats, Kadri responded by having the best game of his playoff career with the game-winning goal and a hat trick.
Kadri’s poise amongst the controversy is mimicked in the entire team’s attitude and contributed to the team’s overall victory. The Avs were the better team. They dominated puck possession and shots on goal, but the scoreboard often suggested otherwise. The Avs did not let frustration creep in and kept playing their game. The major mistake that led to the tragic Game 5 collapse was that the Avs sat back when they had the lead, resulting in an epic comeback by the Blues. However, the Avs did not let the momentum from the Blue’s overtime win carry over into Game 6. The Avs entered the game, controlled the puck, and the shots on goal. Even when they were down (twice), they didn’t relent. This persistence led to Darren Helm’s goal in the third with 5.6 seconds remaining to clinch the series and a spot in the Conference Finals.
I am biased, but this team feels different than the season’s past. They are mature, even-tempered, and humble even though they are one of the best teams. It is no mistake that both Bednar and Sakic are the same way. The Avs were not perfect in Round 2, but they learned from their mistakes and stuck to their team identity, and deserved to win the series.
The last time the Avs entered the Western Conference Finals was in 2002 against their longtime foe, the Detroit Red Wings. The series went to Game 7 and ended in a horrific 7-0 loss. It is also why I will never host an Avalanche playoff party again. It sets an awkward tone when the host leaves their party, even if there was an Avalanche Dairy Queen ice cream cake to be had.
The Avs went 2-1 versus the Oilers this year, and while seven goals are not out of the question with the offense of these clubs, I don’t predict that there will be a shutout.
Enjoy the holiday weekend because come Tuesday night, we are back to business.