Colorado Avalanche Must Come Out Strong against Stars

The Colorado Avalanche need to set the tone in the second-round series against the Dallas Stars by coming out strong and securing a victory.

The Colorado Avalanche found out day before yesterday they’d be facing the Dallas Stars in the second round, and then found out yesterday said round would be coming up soon. Today, in fact. The NHL made the announcement before the first round had even finished — the Philadelphia-Montreal and St. Louis-Vancouver series were still going on. They could have potentially continued beyond Colorado’s second-round start.

They won’t. Both the Canadiens and Blues were up for elimination. Both were eliminated. St. Louis may be the reigning Cup champions, but they won’t be recurring Cup champions. 😎

The Avalanche will “host” the Stars starting today. All NHL teams are tough, but the big battles begin now, today. Colorado spent the majority of the regular season trying to get the first seed so they wouldn’t have to face Dallas in the first round. So, they’re facing them in the second round instead.

The Stars have a talented defensive corps highlighted by Miro Heiskenan. They also have an “unfit” starting goalie, Ben Bishop, but a great backup in Anton Khudobin. And you can never sleep on a top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov.

The Avalanche have a very capable crew. More than capable — they’re accounted as one of the deepest teams in the NHL. However, they’re going to have to come out strong to beat the Stars.

The key is in setting the stage. The Avs dominated the Coyotes in several games. Ironically, their only loss was one of those dominating games, but they nonethless put Arizona on notice that the Avs were here for one purpose. That purpose is to win the Stanley Cup.

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The Avalanche have it in them to set that stage against Dallas. Yes, they failed to do so in the regular season. They did so more recently, though. They shut out the Stars in the round robin game.

What’s more, Colorado seems more mentally tough. Maybe it’s just that the reporters aren’t asking the Avs these questions, but they’re not complaining about Bubble Life. Three players — Nazem Kadri, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and captain Gabriel Landeskog — have infants at home while several others also have children. Yes, the unspoken understanding is that these players miss their families. However, it’s just that — unspoken.

Not that anyone would begrudge players or staff stating that they miss their families, even the ones who don’t have children. Rather, Dallas Stars coach Rick Bowness complained about bubble life itself:

"“People don’t understand how hard it is, this bubble. This bubble living is not what you think it is. Until you’re living it day to day, you don’t understand what everyone is going through.”"

The phrase is too often used, but here’s a perfect case for it: Check your privilege. We’re in the middle of a pandemic when millions upon millions of people have lost their jobs and so many are facing eviction from their homes. And you’re complaining because said pandemic means you have to live off of five-star hotel food for a few weeks in pursuit of sports glory.

Missing your families? I get it. Complaining because you aren’t allowed to leave your five-star accommodations except for league-organized golfing trips? Cry me a river.

If the Avalanche are harboring those kinds of doubts, they’re not sharing them. I think that makes them a mentally tougher team. Ian Cole gave a hint of their mental fortitude when he said they’re not there to enjoy the food or accommodations — they’re there to do a job.

I think the Colorado Avalanche are going to do that job. I truly believe the Avs are going to come out strong against the Stars and take Game 1. And that’s going to set the stage for the series.

Don’t worry, Rick. The Avs can ensure you don’t have to endure Bubble Life for too much longer.

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