Colorado AvalancheStar Nathan MacKinnonHis assessment of his team's efforts to achieve the goal was clear. 4-1 Game 2 lossThe St. Louis BluesThursday night
“We were bad. MacKinnon admitted that they were “really bad tonight” with the Western Conference second-round series now tied at 1-1. “We didn’t have our jump tonight. However, we feel that we are a great group. It's time to let it go and move on.”
The Avalanche won Game 1 against St. Louis despite Colorado needing overtime. They took 54 shots on Blues goalie Jordan BinningtonThey had 106 attempts at shooting that night. They only managed to manage 31 shots and 60 shot attempts in Game 2.
Jared Bednar, Colorado coach, said that “We got outworked” and “outskated”. “They were better than we, but they were worse.” The biggest problem, especially in the beginning, was that nobody wanted to skate with it. They did a great job in neutral, but they didn't move.
Even though they did have the puck, 5-on-5 was a difficult match for the Avalanche. Captain scored the Avalanche's lone goal of the game. Gabriel Landeskogon the power play in the third period. Perron added another goal, making it 3-1. Brandon SaadIt was ended with an empty netter.
“Our execution was not right. We weren't feeling it. MacKinnon stated that they were just fighting it out. It's unfavorable, but it's 1-1. We are able to travel and possibly steal one. We may get two. We have to forget about it and get on with our lives.
The Blues went into Game 2 with an entirely different approach than the one they used in the previous game. They were not too committed to their forecheck and left defenders back in the neutral zone to clog it. They also managed the puck much better. The Avalanche defense was much better once they reached the Colorado zone than it was in Game 1.
Importantly, St. Louis grew their lead by 2-0 when they had the chance, David Perron5-on-3 power-play goal in the second half.
“I have seen it all year. We are a strong team. They knew in Game 1 that they weren't doing well enough and they have responded all year,” said Craig Berube, Blues coach.
Now, the pressure is on the Avalanche. Some pressure comes from recent history.
Three seasons in a row, Colorado has been eliminated from the second round. In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs the Avalanche defeated the Blues in Round 1. Vegas Golden KnightsIn Game 1, the second round, he lost in six games.
They won the postseason. Nashville PredatorsThe Blues controlled Game 1 in the second round, and then the Blues reversed the script and won the series.
MacKinnon claimed that the Avalanche are determined never to repeat history.
“I think that we could dwell on the past and become depressed about ourselves and one another in the years to come. MacKinnon explained that we need to be able to lift each other up, move on and remain positive. “We have a great group. We are confident that we can win the series. We won't sweep each round. It's fine.”
