The Colorado Avalanche have proven to be more than just an offensive powerhouse, showcasing significant defensive improvements. They swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs, reflecting their balanced team performance.
Key points
Avalanche scored 85 goals in 2022 playoffs
Team evolved into a defensive stalwart
Gave up 55 goals in 2022 championship run
Swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round
Scored 21 goals against the Predators in 2022
Colorado AvalancheLos Angeles KingsNashville Predators
NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings
The Avalanche have always been a high-scoring playoff team. When they won the Stanley Cup in 2022, they had a whopping 85 goals in 20 games. When they swept the Nashville Predators in the opening round that year, they scored 21 goals in four games.
Itâs quite a bit higher than the 13 they had against the Los Angeles Kings, capped by a 5-1 victory in Game 4 on Sunday to sweep their way through the first round.
Offense has never been an issue. But the way theyâve evolved into a defensive stalwart over the years is equally impressive. Colorado gave up 55 goals on its way to that 2022 Stanley Cup championship. Itâs an average of nearly three goals against per game. The Predators, in that first round, scored nine times in four games.
This yearâs Kings? Just five goals. Three of them on the power play, and only two at 5-on-5.
âItâs not offense. They have offense, they have lots,â Kings interim coach D.J. Smith told reporters in Los Angeles after his team was eliminated. âItâs how well they check and how well they defend. I think when you talk about the Avalanche, a lot of it goes by how much they score and how good a players they have. Give them credit, their coaching staff, on how well they check, to a man.â
The comparisons to the 2022 squad arenât to try to replicate that season entirely. Itâs simply to show just how well this current rendition of the Avalanche defend. And they do it while still scoring the most goals in the regular season â while the Maurice Rocket Richard winner centers their top line.
âThey didnât give us a breakaway in the series other than the shorthanded one,â Smith said. âThey never gave us a 2-on-1 other than a partial 2-on-1. Thatâs incredible to do for four games. Give them credit.â
Q&A
How many goals did the Avalanche score in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs?
The Avalanche scored 85 goals in 20 games during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
What was the Avalanche's defensive performance in the 2022 playoffs?
The Avalanche gave up 55 goals in the 2022 playoffs, averaging nearly three goals against per game.
How did the Avalanche perform against the Nashville Predators in 2022?
The Avalanche swept the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, scoring 21 goals in four games.
What was the outcome of the Avalanche's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings?
The Avalanche won Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings with a score of 5-1, completing a sweep in the first round.
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The Avalanche are heading to the second round! Please consider donating to the Colorado Hockey Now Playoff Travel Fund via PAYPAL BY CLICKING HERE or VENMO BY CLICKING HERE to help our beat writer continue to provide road coverage during a must-see second-round series.
10 Takeaways
1. Defending and checking is the core of Avs coach Jared Bednarâs system. Any skilled forward can play for the Avalanche and put up 50, 60, or 70 points. Most puck-moving defenseman could join the Avalanche and put up points if they have any ability to rush the puck up the ice.
But if youâre not checking, if youâre not defending, youâre not going to be a fit. Thatâs the Bednar way.
âItâs not as fun to commit on the defensive side and really dig in there and spend a bunch of energy there in order to chip away at the game,â Bednar told reporters. âI think they bought into the way we needed to play the L.A. Kings.â
2. Committing to that style means the Avsâ leading point producers in the first round, Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Artturi Lehkonen, each finished with four points. They all had two goals and two assists.
To put that into perspective, 10 different players in the series between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild already have four points. And itâs going to take at least two more games before that series ends.
âI think all season we were pretty solid, so that gave us confidence,â MacKinnon said of his teamâs ability to defend.
3. MacKinnon continued: âThatâs our main focus in the room, thatâs what weâre preaching on the bench. I feel like thatâs how you win, itâs good sound defensive hockey.â
4. The Stars and Wild play Game 6 on Thursday. If the series ends up going seven, that game will take place on Saturday. Either way, I donât envision a Game 1 of the second round being played any earlier than Sunday. Maybe Saturday, but that would probably be a reach.
5. Iâve already seen comments on social media wondering if the Avalanche are going to have far too long of a break. If itâs going to lead to rust. I donât believe that at all. This core marched to a Cup four years ago after using rest as a weapon between rounds. They preached it, they publicly said it, and they always started the next series strong, no matter how long of a break they had coming into it.
6. Impressively, 14 Avalanche skaters had points in this series. The points were coming from all over the lineup.
7. The second line was the only one that didnât really produce. Brock Nelson had an empty-netter in Game 3. But the wingers that played with him, whether Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton, or Parker Kelly, all had zero points. That probably wonât fly in the second round. But Iâll break that down more as we get closer to knowing who the Avs are facing.
8. I did like that Colton was throwing his body around a lot. He had six of Coloradoâs 21 hits in Game 4.
Colton was visibly upset every time I saw him at Ball Arena during Games 1 and 2 when he was a healthy scratch. He wanted to play. And he shouldâve been angry that he wasnât. Thatâs how competitors operate. He was shot out of a cannon as soon as he entered the series. Iâd like to see him, Nelson, and Nichushkin get going offensively, though.
10. Hat tip to a wonderful career for Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar. Iâve had the honor of speaking with him both on and off the record a handful of times over the last seven years. He was one of the good ones.
