Tag: Central Division
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Cale Makar and Matt Dumba: Family ties bond Avalanche, Wild defensemen in Central Division rivalry
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Cale Makar and Matt Dumba are opposing defensemen in a Central Division rivalry whose NHL dreams started on the same sheet of backyard ice. Makar, the quick-skilled Avalanche phenom, and Dumba, the instigating Wild enforcer, returned to their roots Monday night at the Xcel Energy Center for Colorado’s first road trip…
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Valeri Nichushkin’s pair of goals in Game 2 has Colorado Avalanche in driver’s seat of Stanley Cup Final
DENVER – The Lightning haven’t been able to get off the tracks when Colorado’s train is coming through. Avalanche right winger Valeri Nichushkin, nicknamed “Choo Choo,” scored his second and third goals of the Stanley Cup Final in Saturday’s 7-0 win over the Lightning at Ball Arena and led Colorado to a 2-0 series lead.…
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Pavel Francouz’s cool, calm performance in goal gives Colorado Avalanche a 2-0 lead over Edmonton Oilers
DENVER – Frankie’s play said “relax.” Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz made his second start of the playoffs in place of the injured Darcy Kuemper, who left Game 1 of the Western Conference finals series vs. Edmonton with an upper-body injury. Francouz saved all 24 shots he faced in Colorado’s 4-0 win Thursday at Ball Arena.…
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Colorado Avalanche aiming to maintain speed, keep Edmonton’s turbo-charged attack in check
DENVER • If the brand of hockey played between the Avalanche and Oilers is closer to that of a video game than the traditional sport, the turbo button is getting worn out in the Western Conference Finals. A day after an 8-6 win over the Oilers in Game 1, Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor said the pace…
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Goaltender Pavel Francouz fills in on short notice, helps Avalanche beat Oilers in Game 1
DENVER – If a couple of shifts weren’t enough for Pavel Francouz to get ready, Connor McDavid’s shot seemed to do the trick. Colorado’s backup goaltender was called upon in the middle of the second period after Darcy Kuemper exited with an upper-body injury. Francouz said a trainer told him to get ready for action…
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After 3 straight second-round playoff exits, Colorado Avalanche look to push through
The first round of the playoffs hasn’t been the problem for the Colorado Avalanche. Talk of three straight second-round exits has dogged a team widely considered to be in a championship window. External talk, anyway. “We all know, (those) who’ve been here the last three years – that’s the hump that we try to get…
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Paul Klee: What Colorado Avalanche must overcome to win Stanley Cup
DENVER — If the nerves and anxiety of another Avalanche playoff run are getting to you, look at it this way. Four years ago the Avs were picked to finish dead last in the NHL. Last! See, sweaty palms and sleepless nights still beat the alternative. Now the pressure’s on — big time. The Avs’…
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New pieces in place for latest Colorado Avalanche postseason drive
The core group is largely the same, but the Colorado Avalanche have added several players since their last playoff exit. Here are the relatively new faces on the team and a glance at their regular seasons. ANDREW COGLIANO, D A veteran of 15 NHL seasons, Cogliano has registered an assist since joining the Avalanche at…
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Avalanche vs. Predators: How Colorado fared during the regular-season
The Avalanche don’t have to scroll back too far on their schedule to see the last time they played Nashville — their first-round playoff opponent. In Colorado’s penultimate regular-season contest, the Predators came away with a 5-4 shootout win Thursday. The Avs started strong, but gave up three straight goals before losing in the shootout.…
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Top seed, top target: Capturing conference rarely converts to playoff success in NHL
A No. 1 seed in the NHL means little when it comes to capturing the ultimate prize. Though the Colorado Avalanche enter the playoffs with the best record in the Western Conference, it has been 14 years since that distinction accompanied a team into the Stanley Cup Finals. Since Detroit skated to a Presidents’ Trophy…