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Colorado Avalanche: Top 5 Moments from 2019 Round 1

ByNadia Archuleta|
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 19: Calgary Flames Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and the teammates shake hands with Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Nikita Zadorov (16) and his team after the end of their season following the loss of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Calgary Flames hosted the Colorado Avalanche on April 19, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 19: Calgary Flames Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and the teammates shake hands with Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Nikita Zadorov (16) and his team after the end of their season following the loss of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Calgary Flames hosted the Colorado Avalanche on April 19, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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CALGARY, AB – APRIL 19: Mikko Rantanen #96 and teammates of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate a goal against the Calgary Flames in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mikko Rantanen’s Series-Winning Goal

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Remember what I said about fans and writers criticizing Mikko for last year’s playoff performance? I didn’t exactly criticize the winger, but I was pretty disappointed. But it’s ok, Rants, you definitely made it up to all of us with this year’s playoff performance.

In fact, Rantanen scored the game-winner in Game 5, which was the series-winning game. Mikko Rantanen scored the series-winning goal.

The goal came late in the second period. Despite a hot start by Calgary, Colorado was up 1-0 on captain Gabriel Landeskog’s first goal of the playoffs.

Colorado was putting pressure on the Flames. Rantanen, who was behind the net, received a pass from Colin Wilson. Mikko peeked around the net and banked the puck right off Smith’s backside for the goal, putting the Avs up 2-0.

The Avalanche ended up winning the game 5-1, making Mikko’s butt-bank goal the series-winner.

It seems weird to not include any Nathan MacKinnon highlights in this list. He recorded three goals — one of them the game-winner — and five assists. And he so dominated the series that Flames defenseman Mark Giordano made like PK Subban last year and praised Nate to the high heavens.

Well, he didn’t make this list in the first round. I’m sure our superstar will make it in the second round.

The Colorado Avalanche will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks series. At the time of writing, the series had just been tied by the Sharks, 3-3.

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