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Colorado Avalanche: Keys to All-Important Game 6

By Nadia Archuleta

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 31: Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars is checked by Ian Cole #28 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 31, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 31: Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars is checked by Ian Cole #28 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 31, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche have to stick to their game plan — and just their own game plan — to take the all-important Game 6 against the Dallas Stars.

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The current inception of the Colorado Avalanche are no underdogs. Not so long ago, they were the team favored to win the Stanley Cup. A couple key injuries and a colossally bad period have put that favor in jeopardy.

The Avalanche find themselves in a must-win situation in Game 6. They can be eliminated.

It shouldn’t be so, but it is. But then, maybe the Avs have the Stars right where they want them. Colorado shouldn’t be underdogs, but they’re going into Game 6 in that role.

And they so love that role. They bring their best game when all is on the line. Whatever happens this evening, I do not expect to see the Avalanche roll over and die. (🤞)

I don’t like these games. I get too nervous. I end up watching a lot of them through closed fingers as if I were watching the scary part of a horror movie. I like blowouts when the Avs are the victors. But there are no blowouts with a Dallas team that can and will score seven straight to win a series.

So, let’s look at some keys to how the Colorado Avalanche can take this all-important Game 6.

Tighten Up the Defense

At the time of writing, there was no word on who would start in goal for the Avalanche. Michael Hutchinson backstopped Game 5 because Pavel Francouz was deemed unfit to play.

Regardless, one of the key injuries that has put a hitch in Colorado’s step was to starting goalie Philipp Grubauer. Another was to cornerstone defenseman Erik Johnson. With two star players out like that, Colorado has to tighten up on defense. And it has to be a five-man unit affair.

Play Run and Gun

So, the Dallas Stars can score seven goals in a single game? So what? So can the Colorado Avalanche. A team with high-end scorers like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen and our superstud rookie, Cale Makar, can score some goals.

They’re also the faster team. They’ve got skaters with lethal shots. But they also have players who can plain beat the Stars in a foot race. If the game opens up, Colorado needs to play that run and gun style of hockey.

The key is to not forget the gun part of that equation. They’ve got to shoot and shoot lots.

Keep a Cool Head

The Dallas Stars may score first. They may start to make a comeback even if they go down several goals. Their goalie can prove to be a beast in net. Jamie Benn can continue to be the little 💩 he’s been all series.

The Colorado Avalanche can’t let any of that knock them off they’re preferred style of play. Indeed, they need to be the ones that control the pace and style. And if Dallas needs to start imposing their will, Colorado needs to keep a cool head about them.

No one, not even superstar Nathan MacKinnon, is going to be able to win a game by himself. They can’t start losing their minds as they play run and gun. And they can’t  take stupid penalties by playing too physical.

Even keel is the word of the day.

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The Colorado will be the visitors for Game 6. The game starts at 6:00 PM MDT. Down 3-2 in the series, Game 6 is a must-win for the Colorado Avalanche.

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