No, this is not a tale like the 1962 epic Western of American expansion, but about how the Avalanche have bulldozed their opponents and punched their ticket into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 21 years. Though, Alfred Newman’s iconic musical score did serve as inspiration for this post. Feel free to take a listen below.
After 14 playoff contests, only losing two games to St. Louis, the Avs have recorded 12 of the 16 wins needed to claim the ultimate prize. They are now four wins away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The Avs most recently sealed the deal in a 6-5 overtime win against the Oilers to complete their second postseason sweep and join only six other teams who have swept in the Conference Finals in the past 20 years. It feels like the night before graduation: you know you’ve earned it, and it’s coming, but it still doesn’t feel real. But come next week, when the Avs face off against either the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning, the enormity will finally sink in. The Avs are going to The Cup, baby!
With Tampa leading the Rangers 3-2, they will have a chance to close out the series on Saturday at home, a feat that they are undoubtedly capable of, and would place the Finals beginning as early as June 15, or if the Rangers push a Game 7, maybe as late at June 17 or 18. Either way, the Avs (and the fans) have the next week to prepare for the final task. In the meantime, to understand where we are going, we need to look back and see precisely how we got here.
It is not a coincidence, luck, or superstitions that have got the Avs to this point in the season. Their resilience, persistence, and professional mindset have enabled them to stay on their course. It also helps that they are so good that the only “adjustments” that needed to be made were to keep playing their game, which is to storm the next, not get frustrated when the puck doesn’t bounce their way because it eventually will if they keep forcing the puck.
In each series, there is always a turning point in which you know the series will be won. Here is a look back at those games because if you’re like me, the series against Nashville feels like eons ago.
Game 2 vs. Nashville Predators:
After an onslaught 7-2 victory in Game 1, at the end of regulation in Game 2, the score was tied at 1-1. At that point, the Avs had outshot the Predators 42-20, only allowing nine shots in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
Entering overtime, Nashville was one bounce away from stealing the game, but the Avs didn’t show signs of frustration during their bombardment and kept their composure. Their efforts were rewarded at 8:31 in OT by the young Cale Makar.
The Avs went on to sweep the series 4-0.
Game 4 vs. St. Louis Blues:
The Avs were able to bounce back and capture Game 3 after losing for the first time on home ice in the playoffs in Game 2. But the win came at a cost to Blues goaltender and Avs’ Samuel Girard. It was a heated game, and what came after was even more contested. However, the Avs didn’t let emotions run their game.
Despite trailing after the first period, Johnson tied it, and then Kadri responded in the best fashion by scoring a hat trick, and the Avs would go on to win 6-3. The Avs won both games on the road and took a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The Avs blew it in Game 5 at home but redeemed themselves with the Game 6 series win in St. Louis.
Game 2 vs. Edmonton Oilers:
Game 1 saw 14 goals; it was closer to a football game than an NHL playoff score. At just the end of two, the score was 7-4. The Avs would ultimately close it out 8-6. It was one wild game, and entering Game 2 without Avs goalie, Kuemper, who knew what was in store.
However, the Avs responded by having one of their best post-season games. After a scoreless first period, the Avs scored two goals in 15 seconds and didn’t take their foot off the gas. They managed to keep McDavid off the scoreboard and got the shutout 4-0. The Avs outshot them 40-24, proving they were in control of the series.
Stanley Cup vibes at Ball Arena Game 4 watch party
Despite the close match-up everyone, including myself, predicted, the Avs demonstrated their skill and leadership on the ice that Edmonton has yet to cultivate. Despite trailing by two goals at two separate times in Game 4, the Avs were relentless. They didn’t let the Oilers' late-game-tying goal carry any momentum into overtime, where it only took 1:19 seconds for Artturi Lehkonen to find the back of the net and send his club to the Finals.
And that, my friends, is how the west was won.
Will the Avs look to dethrone the Lightening, or will they show the young Rangers exactly what a Stanley Cup team should look like? The Avs have learned from their past post-season blunders and built their team to win. Now, all we can do is wait.