playoffs: 2020-21 | WDFR | (W1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (W4) St. Louis Blues

[Shane Falco]

 

(W1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (W4) St. Louis Blues

 

 

 

 

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS:

 

Avs: 39-13-4, 82 points

Blues: 27-20-9, 63 points

 

 

SEASON SERIES:

 

COL 5-3-0; STL 3-5-0

 

 

 

 

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[td]GAME BREAKERS:[/td]

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[td]Avalanche: MacKinnon scored at least 20 goals for a fourth straight season but missed the final two regular-season games with an undisclosed injury. MacKinnon also missed games May 7 and 8 against the Los Angeles Kings with a lower-body injury, but Colorado coach Jared Bednar said the injuries are not related and they're hopeful MacKinnon will be ready for Game 1. MacKinnon is averaging 1.35 points per game in his NHL playoff career (20 goals, 34 assists in 40 games). He had a 14-game point streak last postseason.[/td]

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[td]Blues: O'Reilly, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2019 voted most valuable player of the playoffs, led the Blues in goals (24), even-strength goals (18), and game-winning goals (four) in 56 games this season.[/td]

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[td]GOALTENDING:[/td]

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[td]Avalanche: Philipp Grubauer was among the NHL's top goalies this season; he was 30-9-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and seven shutouts in 40 games (39 starts), and 18-3-1 with a 1.86 GAA and .924 save percentage in his final 22 games (21 starts). Rookie Jonas Johansson (5-1-1, 2.06 GAA, .913 save percentage) is expected to be the backup with Devan Dubnyk (3-2-0, 3.26 GAA, .886 save percentage) in NHL COVID-19 protocol since May 3.[/td]

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[td]Blues: Jordan Binnington helped St. Louis win the Cup in 2019 but struggled in the playoffs last season, when he was 0-5-0 with a 4.72 GAA and .851 save percentage. In 42 games this season (41 starts), he was 18-14-8 with a 2.65 GAA and .910 save percentage but had a .921 save percentage over his final 15 starts. Backup Ville Husso was 9-6-1 with a 3.21 GAA, .893 save percentage and one shutout in 17 games (15 starts).[/td]

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[td]X FACTORS:[/td]

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[td]Avalanche: The higher the stakes, the better forward Nazem Kadri seems to play; he led the NHL with five game-winning goals in 15 games during the 2020 postseason. Kadri was sixth on the Avalanche this season with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 56 games.[/td]

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[td]Blues: Defenseman Torey Krug returned May 10 after missing five games with an upper-body injury. Krug, who signed a seven-year contract with St. Louis on Oct. 9, 2020 after nine seasons with Boston, has scored 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 75 NHL playoff games. He scored 32 points (two goals, 30 assists) in 51 games this season.[/td]

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[td]WILL WIN IF:[/td]

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[td]Avalanche: They continue to take advantage of their depth, get consistent goaltending from Grubauer, and continue to receive offense from defensemen Cale Makar (44 points in 44 games), Samuel Girard (32 points in 48 games) and Devon Toews (31 points in 53 games).[/td]

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[td]Blues: They can rekindle the energy, enthusiasm and physicality they used to win their first championship two years ago. Binnington, a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy during that run, will need to be on the top of his game.[/td]

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More: https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-st-louis-blues-series-preview/c-324718028?tid=287339198

 

 

[Phil]

Break out the broom!

 

 

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[BrooksBurner]

MacKinnon with 6 goals in the 4 game sweep. Domination.

[Stephen]

Wouldn't be surprised if the Avs face the Golden Knights in the second round.