DENVER (AP) — Marinate on this for a quick moment: Colorado has 11 goals in the Stanley Cup Final so far, and not one from star forward Nathan MacKinnon.
Marinate on this for a quick moment: Colorado has 11 goals in the Stanley Cup Final so far, and not one from star forward Nathan MacKinnon. The always-pushing-the-pace Avalanche are clicking on all cylinders, even with MacKinnon’s scoring held in check and Nazem Kadri sidelined by a thumb injury. This is a bunch that comes at you from all directions — no matter the name on the back of the jersey. They’re a constant blur of burgundy-and-blue that gets fast break after fast break, scoring chance after scoring chance. Along with it, they have a 2-0 lead over Tampa Bay in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 in Tampa on Monday night.
“Certainly the fastest team that we played,” Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos said. “We’ve got to find a way to slow them down.”
How, precisely? “Putting pucks in areas where you can neutralize their speed and not turning the puck over — not giving them freebies,” Stamkos said. “It’s no secret they’re a very fast team.”
Colorado has scored at least seven goals four times in this playoff run, the latest a 7-0 rout in Game 2. They’re one of only seven NHL teams who have recorded that many seven-or-more goal games in one postseason. On top of that, the Avalanche became the first NHL team to tally 11 or more goals through two games of the final since they themselves accomplished the feat in 1996. Coach Jared Bednar chalks the offensive fireworks up to one big reason — rest.
