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Colorado Avalanche Fall Back Down to Earth in Game 4

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Members of the Nashville Predators celebrate a win following a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 18, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Members of the Nashville Predators celebrate a win following a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 18, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche, after being magical on Monday night, have fallen back down to earth.

The atmosphere at the Colorado Avalanche game on Monday night was electric. We all felt the home ice magic. I think we all felt the Avs were going to win that game, and it was going to be glorious.

For some reason, even before the game started, there wasn’t the same magic last night. Maybe it was because there were more Nashville Predators fans than on Monday. Maybe it was because Avs fans didn’t show up as early as they did on Monday to partake of the festivities.

Or maybe because we all knew the Predators hadn’t played their best game on Monday, and that that was going to change. Or we all realized the Avalanche had played their best game on Monday, and that was going to change.

Colorado didn’t come out with the same energy last night, and we didn’t feel the same electricity in the crowd either. However, as Nathan MacKinnon pointed out, fans can’t actually influence games as we can’t make plays. So let’s look at what really didn’t work.

Rantanen is not Having a Good Series

Despite skating on the top line with Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon — who lead the team in playoff points, Rantanen is tied for fourth place in points with Tyson Barrie and Matthew Nieto with three assists. Nikita Zadorov has more goals, one. Rookie Alexander Kerfoot has more goals, two. Blake Comeau and Gabriel Bourque each have two goals, which is more than Rantanen!

What’s more, Rantanen hasn’t had a lot of Grade A scoring chances. And he’s back to falling down a lot.

And he hit Nathan MacKinnon’s stick with his face:

Poor Rantanen — that’s going to leave a mark.

Coach Jared Bednar needs to take him off the top like, though. Put Sven Andrighetto in — he’s been speedy and chippy in all four games.

Bernier is not Well

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We all hoped we’d get the Jonathan Bernier of the nine-game winning streak. Unfortunately, we got the Jonathan Bernier who’s never quite recovered from his two concussions this season. Boy, I really hope he’s not experiencing concussion symptoms — hockey’s not worth your future, J. Bern.

I’m pretty sure Bernier started out Game 4 injured. He took a puck to the collar bone last game, and that may be paining him. But he also switched between his regular mask and the white concussion mask early in the first period.

To compound matters, Bernier left the game after the second period and didn’t return because of a lower body injury. I didn’t see what happened, and, of course, there’s no prognosis.

Backup 2.0, Andrew Hammond came in for the third period. He stopped all eight shots he faced. I feel good with him in net. But that means we’ll have backup backup backup Spencer Martin sitting on the bench in case Hammond gets a case of the injured.

Colorado Compounds Mistakes with More Mistakes

Hockey is a game of mistakes. However, the Colorado Avalanche seem unable to reset when they make mistakes. Instead, they compound the mistake with more mistakes.

It was obvious that the Nashville Predators came into the game to dominate tonight. I don’t want to say the Avs got intimidated. However, as soon as Nashville started pushing Colorado around, the Avs started making mistakes.

They started icing the puck and passing straight to Predator players and dumping and chasing — only to discover a Pred had gotten there first. Playoff hockey is rough, and you’ve got to be mentally tough. Monday night Avs were. Wednesday night Avs… not so much.

Next: Avs Learning About Playoff Hockey

The Colorado Avalanche did a lot of good things in last night’s game. They went into the third period down by three and scored two goals. They fought back at every turn and refused to let the Predator players run over them no matter how many dirty plays they tried.

I’m proud of what the Avs accomplished. But I’m also enjoying the hockey, and I don’t want it to end.

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