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Avalanche sweep the Blues, but Round 2 will be different

May 24, 2021, 11:00 AM

NHL players are creators of habit. Most players and even coaches nap in the afternoon on a game day. Eat. Skate. Sleep. Repeat. That is NHL season in a nutshell. Late afternoon game in St. Louis for game 4 seemed to catch everyone napping. The game was sluggish, slower, and sloppy at times.

Avalanche’s top players struggled in the first, including their top defensive pairing in Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Even with the lackluster first period, the Avalanche has too much talent for the St. Louis Blues. Avs win the game and series. Next!

Evolution of a goal … Details matter in a win and lose. We analyze each goal down to every little inch and every second, sometimes minutes, before the puck crosses the line. Here is a look at game four goals:

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Colorado 0, St. Louis 1

The interesting goal. Usually, when a player has a breakaway, it generally means a defenseman is at fault. Not the case here. The Avalanche always has an active defensive, even their 3rd pairing. Nathan MacKinnon is the forward that is covering the weak defensive side. Mackinnon proceeds to make a poor line change, leaving the weak side and Blues player wide open. No chance for strong side defensemen to recover.

Colorado 1, St. Louis 1

Brandon Saad had his best game in the series, in my opinion, in Game 4. His skating was why, when a player doesn’t move his feet, he lessens his effectiveness. Saad was active, more jump, more energy. Colorado gets on the board late on a power play. Blues defense has weak gap, and Saad releases a great shot off the rush.

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Colorado 2, St. Louis 1

Skill and talent get the Avs 2nd goal which is not common. Landeskog has lived in front of the net his whole career, and he does it again here. The hockey sense for number ninety-two is off the charts. His timing to create screens is impeccable, and his hands for tipping shots in elite. Samuel Girard’s shot from the point is more of a pass, with the intent being for Landeskog to tip it.

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Colorado 3, St. Louis 1

All starts with defense! Strong coverage against the Blues top line in the defensive zone leads to a Ryan O’Reilly turnover. Landeskog, in an excellent support position, creates a breakout pass to his two linemates. Bad pinch by Blues defense and MacKinnon speed is too much even with a small mistake. Rantanen is an elite goal scorer, scoring five-hole on the rush.

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Colorado 3, St. Louis 2

Tyson Jost, who has been fantastic in the series, takes a bad penalty. The Blues scored on a power-play rush into the Avs zone. Devon Toews drifts just a little bit and creates a seem for the Blues to find a dangerous shooter for Tarasenko’s 2nd goal of the game.

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Colorado 4, St. Louis 2

Empty Net

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Colorado 5, St. Louis 2

Empty Net

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The Series: Colorado 4, St. Louis 0

The outcome of the series was never in doubt from the start. Just a matter of if the Blues would be able to win a game. The Avalanche were dominating. The Blues looked outmanned. As good as the Avs looked, keep in perspective their depleted opponent. Round 2 will be night and day different.

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The Good in the Series:

  • Avs Topline
  • Discipline
  • Coaching
  • Yost

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The Bad in the Series:

  • Nemeth
  • Timmins
  • Stan Kroenke
  • Nischuskin
  • Burakovsk

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