Colorado has already scored 11 goals in the Stanley Cup Finals, but none have come from star forward Nathan MacKinnon.
Everything is running like clockwork for the Avalanche, even with MacKinnon quiet and Nazem Kadri sidelined with a thumb injury.
The team is a quick group that constantly counterattacks, generating one scoring chance after another.
It’s one of the big reasons the Avalanche lead the Lightning 2-0. Game 3 is Monday night in Tampa.
“They’re definitely the fastest team we’ve faced,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. We have to find a way to slow them down. You have to send the puck where you can neutralize their speed, without committing turnovers. »
Colorado has scored at least seven goals on four occasions since the start of the playoffs — most recently on Saturday, when they outscored them 7-0.
They are one of seven NHL teams with as many seven-goal games or more in the same postseason.
The Avalanche became the first NHL team to score 11 or more goals in the first two games of the Finals since 1996, when they themselves scored the feat.
Coach Jared Bednar credits much of the offensive fireworks to the respite.
The Lightning struggled six games against the Rangers, while the Avalanche had an extended break after sweeping Edmonton.
“Rest is important,” Bednar said. Our team just seems to be really focused on the goal. The guys are hungry for victory. »
A different player rises to the occasion every game, like Andre Burakovsky scoring in overtime as a curtain raiser. Or Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar each getting two goals in Game 2.
They broke through the great wall ‘Andrei Vasilevskiy’.
“We think that’s the way to beat them,” Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson said of playing fast. But we can’t think they are shaken. We just have to keep our foot on the accelerator. »
Plus, Colorado isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. Darren Helm leads the playoffs with 84 hits, including 22 in the final.
He also scored in Game 2, his second goal of the playoffs.
“That guy is a beast,” Makar said of the veteran center. He is so motivated. »
On Saturday, Darcy Kuemper joined Patrick Roy as Avalanche goaltenders with a shutout in the Stanley Cup Final.
Roy had one in 1996 and two in 2001, when the Avalanche won the Cup.
MacKinnon has two assists in the series. Even if he doesn’t have the main role, he can have a big impact in a more subdued role: winning faceoffs, playing tough, wearing down the opponent and forechecking.
Mikko Rantanen had three assists in Game 2. He’s provided at least two points in his last four games in Denver.
That ties a playoff record for the organization. The mark was established by Peter Stastny with the Nordiques in 1982, then equaled by MacKinnon in 2020.
While the final will continue in Florida, Colorado is 7-0 on the road since the start of the playoffs.
“They’re playing at an elite level right now,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. This is not our case. We have to raise our level of play.”