Avalanche and Flames Set to Clash in Game 2

Following a loss in the first game of the best-of-seven series, the Colorado Avalanche looks to bounce back against the Calgary Flames in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 on Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Following the outing, the clubs will head to Denver to continue the series at Pepsi Center for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Recapping Game 1

Philipp Grubauer made a postseason career-high 28 saves as Colorado lost 4-0 at Calgary on Thursday. Matthew Tkachuk lit the lamp twice for the Flames, who capitalized on 2-of-5 man-advantage situations. The Avalanche had four power-play opportunities but could not find the back of the net. The Avs registered 26 shots on goal, but Calgary goaltender Mike Smith turned aside each one he faced.

What To Watch

Road Warriors
Colorado generated a 17-16-8 record while playing on the road during the regular season. The club had the sixth-best, power-play success rate (23.3 percent) in the NHL while on the road and tallied the sixth-most goals overall, notching 130 total markers in opponents' arenas (3.17 goals per game). The Avs also led the league in blocked shots while away, stopping 685 over the course of the season. Colorado defenseman Ian Cole is responsible for 87 of those blocks, tied for sixth in the league in that statistic on road ice.
Tonight's Special
Game 1 featured nine different power plays and saw the Avalanche allow two man-advantage markers in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. During the regular season, the Avs' power play ranked seventh in the league with a 22.0-percent success rate. In comparison, Calgary finished 18th in the NHL, capitalizing on 19.3 percent of its man-advantage opportunities. On the road, Colorado killed 80.5 percent of its penalties, finishing 13th in the league. Calgary posted the 24th-highest penalty-kill percentage while at home, nullifying 76.3 percent of its man-down binds.

Players To Watch

Colorado: Left Wing Gabriel Landeskog
Though he didn't reach the scoresheet on Thursday, Landeskog registered three shots on goal, five hits, two blocks and was tied for the most time on ice, skating 25:04. Saturday's contest marks his 15th career postseason game; the captain has racked up seven goals and four assists throughout his playoff experience.
Calgary: Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk
Tkachuk registered a power-play goal and an empty-net marker in Thursday's outing, his first-career postseason points. This season, Tkachuk recorded 77 points (34 goals, 43 assists), ranking fourth on the Flames. He landed third on the club for points on the man advantage, tallying 11 times while adding 13 assists. Tkachuk is in his third season with Calgary and Saturday's clash will mark his sixth career playoff game.

The Details

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' first-round series between the Avalanche and Flames is slated for 8:30 p.m. MT. The game can be watched locally on Altitude 2 and will be televised nationally in the United States on NBCSN and in Canada on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. The radio broadcast can be heard on AM 950 in the Denver area or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com.
Additionally, fans are invited to the team's official watch party at Sports Column in downtown Denver where they can watch Game 2 and win prizes.