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.