3 keys to a Colorado Avalanche series victory over Stars
After it seemed the sky might be falling in the immediate aftermath of Game 1 of the first-round series against the Jets, the Avalanche got down to business, steadied the ship, and went on to dominate the rest of the series, dispatching Winnipeg in five games, four games to one.
Colorado’s offense was a juggernaut, scoring five or more goals in all five games in the first round. Backstop Alexandar Georgiev started the series slow but bounced back in a big way, providing timely saves for the Avalanche throughout the rest of the series.
Colorado tightened the reins on Winnipeg over the final four games of the series, only allowing more than two goals one time after the Jets’ seven-goal outburst in Game 1.
The Avalanche are riding momentum going into their second-round series against the tough Dallas Stars, the winners of the Central Division during the regular season, and the top seed in the entire Western Conference for these playoffs.
The Avalanche will need to be firing on all cylinders to be victorious in this series, and if they can be successful with these three keys, they’ll move forward to the Western Conference Finals.
No. 3 key to a Colorado Avalanche series victory over Stars: Valeri Nichushkin needs to keep scoring
For those who watched the first round, Val Nichushkin was a man amongst boys. His physicality and net-front presence had a massive impact on the Jets, and in turn, helped the Avalanche offense find its rhythm.
For Nichushkin himself, he currently leads the playoffs with seven goals, and he’s only played five games. He was a +4 in the series as well, meaning when he’s on the ice, the Avalanche has an advantage. The 6’4” 210 lb. Cheyabinsk, Russia-native was drafted in the first round by Dallas in 2013, and they wish he was still wearing Victory Green instead of having to determine how to stop him in this series.
With Nichushkin playing the way he is, the top line for the Avs becomes even more formidable. If Val is charging the net and being an immovable object on the power play, that opens ice for players like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, neither of whom need any extra help.
The Stars are a quality team, and they’ll have a game plan for Nichushkin, but if he continues to play at the pace he played in the first round, the Avalanche should have a distinct advantage.
No. 2 key to a Colorado Avalanche series victory over Stars: Alexandar Georgiev needs to make the timely save
Georgiev was atrocious in Game 1 against the Jets. There’s no other way around it. The positive from that is that it appeared he knew he needed to be better, and he was, only giving up more than two goals once in the next four games.
The mercurial goaltender from Bulgaria was just that this season- hot and cold. His save percentage was middle of the road this season. He led the league in wins but had a goals-against average of over 3, (3.02) good for 35th in the league. The common question for most of the season from the Burgundy and Blue faithful was whether backup goalie Justus Annunen should see more playing time.
Play like Georgiev provided in the final four games of the first round will give the Avalanche a chance in this series. Coach Bednar, Chris MacFarland, and the rest of the brass don’t need lights-out goaltending- especially if the offense is scoring five goals a game.
The Avalanche do, however, need a timely save at the right time to move on. Georgiev is entirely capable of providing that. Much the same formula Colorado used to win the Cup not so long ago (2022) is the strategy they need to employ- and likely are- for the rest of this playoff campaign. A lot of scoring and solid goaltending with big saves in big situations sets the Avalanche on a path to winning this series. It worked for Darcy Kuemper and company on the way to the ultimate glory a few years back and Georgiev can emulate Kuemper this season to help key the Avalanche success.
No. 1 key to a Colorado Avalanche series victory over Stars: The Colorado Avalanche need to shut down Jason Robertson
The Avalanche cannot continue to win every game 5-4. It would be nice and exciting hockey, but it’d likely take years off Avalanche fans’ lives if this was to happen. Colorado did a good job for most of the series against Winnipeg limiting their top players, and the Avs must continue to do this If they are to beat the Stars.
Dallas has some offensive firepower, namely their star player Jason Robertson. The California native was a second-round pick of the Stars in 2017 and has made a name for himself in the league, leading the team in points this season. To an extent, the Stars go as Robertson goes. Robertson has five points in seven games so far these playoffs.
Luckily for Colorado, they’ve got some shutdown ability on their blueline. While everyone thinks of Cale Makar when they think of Avalanche defensemen, and rightfully so, there’s a guy who pairs with Makar who is one of the better defensive defensemen in the league now.
Devon Toews, the 6’1”, 191 lb. defenseman from British Columbia, was acquired by the Avalanche from the New York Islanders in 2020 for draft picks, and he has been a difference-maker from day one in Colorado.
Toews is a shutdown defender, routinely earning the opposition’s top offensive threat. He’s done a great job of keeping defenders to the outside of the ice and utilizing his fundamentals to stop offensive players from obtaining a rhythm. Good things happen when Toews is on the ice, as judged by his +156 plus/minus since donning the burgundy and blue.
With proper positioning and attention to detail, two tenets of Toews’ game, it should help to neutralize Robertson and co. for the Stars. If the Avalanche can limit the Stars’ big players, they will fare well in this series.
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