Recap: Avs can’t overcome an onslaught and drop game one

1 week ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images


Both teams scored in bunches but the Jets still came out on top. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us, and the series between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets has started with a bang. It's too bad Colorado found themselves on the not-so-fun side of this wild game.
First Period
Six goals were scored in the first, with each team giving the opposition grade chances right in front of the net. The scoring started with Val Nichushkin picking the corner on Hellebyuck with an absolute snipe show. I mentioned in our roundtable that Colorado needed to flex their shooting talent to beat Connor. That's precisely what Nichushkin did.


Hop on board the playoff train with Valeri Nichushkin! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Z9TRBIsqG3— x - Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) April 21, 2024




Josh Morrissey would get the first tally for the Jets, with Arturri Lehkonen being caught out of position after a handoff at the point. Georgiev never saw the puck.


Morrissey with the point shot goal and Canada Life Centre ERUPTS pic.twitter.com/wZqJRqjrsX— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 21, 2024




Former Avalanche Vladislav Namestnikov put the Jets up a goal after Josh Manson lazily left a puck just in front of his net while playing the puck in the corner. Namestnikov did well in putting this puck on the net while falling down 2-1 Jets, but that turnover can't happen.


HOT N READY PIZZA DELIVERED RIGHT TO NAMESTNIKOV pic.twitter.com/cDP0ZKqFfX— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 21, 2024




Miles Wood showed some bounceback for the Avalanche, and then Nathan MacKinnon scored as well. These goals came just 18 seconds apart, and the momentum turned in Colorado's favor. That feeling was fleeting.


MACKINNON'S FIRST OF THE PLAYOFFS!#GoAvsGo | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/Ugi0G6j2Os— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 21, 2024




Unfortunately, Mark Scheifele would score less than a minute later, tying the score back at 3-3 heading into the second period. This was another goal the Avalanche could have avoided if they had limited self-inflicted damage.


What an opening period of hockey. Mark Scheifele gets the game's sixth goal of the opening 20 minutes! #StanleyCup : @espn ➡️ https://t.co/FmPv8M6v1l : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/1YEUeymwu4— NHL (@NHL) April 21, 2024




Second Period
Things calmed down a bit in the second period, but the lone goal we saw was one goalkeeper Alexandar Georgiev must have, especially in a playoff contest. Colorado didn't do much to help their netminder in certain situations, but at this point, Georgiev had a whopping six saves on ten shots. That's just not winning netminding.


Adam Lowry on the 2-on-1 beats Georgiev five-hole The #NHLJets take a 4-3 lead in period two. Huge goal from the captain. pic.twitter.com/PYJ2MgHRTZ— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) April 22, 2024




Third Period
The wheels fell off entirely in the third period, which I'd argue was the case for both squads. The next tally came when Lowry once again beat Georgiev; this time, at first glance, it appeared a double doinker bailed out the Avalanche. Upon further review, the entire puck did, in fact, cross the goal line.


ADAM LOWRY HIT THE POST 3 TIMES ON ONE SHOT, AND THE REVIEW SAYS GOOD GOAL pic.twitter.com/eX6wMfqP8F— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2024




Colorado was good in waves and still showed fight after the Jets went up 6-3 just five minutes into the period after a Kyle Connor powerplay tally. Arturri Lehkonen would score for the Avalanche to bring things to 6-4 and keep them in it.
The Jets would respond with another goal from Kyle Connor, who came on strong in the latter half of this contest, making it 7-4 Winnipeg. There will be plenty of tape to review for Colorado after this one. They had plenty of breakdowns and didn't get saves when they needed them.


Cale Makar will still be Cale Makar regardless of the scenario #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/tRdhCIIL7D— x - Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) April 22, 2024




The third period wore on, and Makar scored unassisted in the powerplay, which made things slightly more interesting. Colorado was just two goals back with just over seven minutes to play. Casey Mittelstadt would get his first playoff goal and add to the drama, but with just 30 seconds left. It was too little, too late for the Colorado Avalanche.


Colorado goal!Scored by Casey Mittelstadt with 00:30 remaining in the 3rd period.Assisted by Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen.Winnipeg: 7Colorado: 6#COLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #GoAvsGo #FindAWay pic.twitter.com/FB2IdSIklP— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 22, 2024




Takeaways
It's a tale as old as time, but man, did the Avalanche need a few saves from their netminder tonight? Georgiev had moments where he looked good but far too many moments where his wavering confidence came to the forefront. At this point, the Avs might want to go with Annunen in game two just to change their mentality going in. Had Justus not been ill, he absolutely would have played in tonight's contest.
Six goals should be enough to beat the Winnipeg Jets, with Hellebyuck not ever giving up that many in this regular season. Breakdowns were terrible, and both teams had them. I'd expect game two to be played with more attention to detail on the back end.
At first, it looked like the Jets were playing not to lose, but that must have just been early playoff jitters. They proved capable and have extended their Avalanche dominance into the postseason.
Can the Avalanche get a performance in the net that will allow them to take game two? Will that be Georgiev again if Annunen is still sick? Isn't this supposed to be fun?
Upcoming
Game two is set for Tuesday night and will again be a "White Out" in Winnipeg. Can Colorado display their Stanley Cup insight, or will game two feature more of the same? We shall see.
In the comments, let us know what you think of this game!...

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