Avalanche Prepared For Start of "New Season"

The NHL's second season is upon the Colorado Avalanche, and the team recognizes that what it accomplished during the regular season doesn't mean much at the most important time of the year.
Sure, there are advantages that were earned during this year's 56-game campaign--like how the Avs own the home-ice edge throughout the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy--but what happened before during the main campaign doesn't mean it will translate in the postseason. Many of these Colorado players have first-hand experience with that when they won their first-round set in five games in 2019 against the Calgary Flames, the top seed in the West that season.

The Avalanche has a target on its back from the other West Division foes, with the St. Louis Blues getting the first crack at the club with Game 1 of Round 1 tonight at Ball Arena.
"It's that time of the year where it's a fun time to be playing hockey," said Avs head coach Jared Bednar. "They put a lot of hard work behind the scenes over the last few days--lots of meetings, getting prepared--and I think they're anxious to get out and go play."

Colorado went 5-3-0 versus St. Louis in the eight-game season series, but three of those contests were decided by one-goal and two more by two scores that featured an empty-netter by the winning team at the end. The Avs won five in a row in the middle of the set before the Blues won the last two in St. Louis.
The clubs are also rivals from the old Central Division and know each other well, and the intensity will certainly be elevated with their past history. It was just three seasons ago that the Avs defeated the Blues in Game 82 in the same building to earn the final Western Conference spot for the 2018 playoffs.
"Every shift just seems a little bit more competitive and more important. Not that the regular season isn't, but there is something in the atmosphere and the air where, especially now with getting fans back, there is a different energy and it's do-or-die or you go home," said forward Brandon Saad.

Saad will return to the Avs' lineup tonight after missing the final 11 contests of the year with a lower-body injury and brings the most postseason experience on the roster. He has skated in 81 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and owns two Stanley Cup championships on his resume.
The difference this time of year often comes by way of the details, which can swing games and series for one team over the other. Faceoffs, clears, passes, positioning, communication and more all carry more importance in a best-of-seven set.
"I think that's the biggest thing," Saad said. "It's do-or-die and the biggest thing in the playoffs is the details and the momentum swings and controlling that. That is something we've talked about, staying mentally sharp. It's been a few days (of practice), so everybody is trying to get back in the groove of things and excited to play tonight."

LINEUP NOTES

Philipp Grubauer will be the starting goaltender, with Jonas Johansson being the backup.
Fellow keeper Devan Dubnyk took part in morning skate after being in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol since May 3. It was his second time on the ice since being added to the league's list, having also skated on Sunday.
Nathan MacKinnon, who missed four of the final five regular-season contests with two separate lower-body injuries, will be back in the lineup. Defenseman Conor Timmins will also play after not finishing the Avs' season finale on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Kings.
Rookie Alex Newhook will make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut after appearing in each of the team's final six games of the regular season.
View: Avalanche vs. Blues Game 1 Projected Lineup

NOTEWORTHY

Colorado is beginning its 36th playoff series since moved from Quebec in 1995-96. The Avs have gone 21-14 in the previous 35 sets. Overall, this is the 51st playoff series in franchise history (27-23 record) and 45th best-of-seven series (24-20 record).
The Avs and Blues are meeting for just the second time in the postseason, as Colorado defeated St. Louis in five games during the 2001 Western Conference Final. They also faced off in one round-robin game during the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
The Avalanche/Nordiques franchise is 19-10 all-time in playoff series when winning the first game, 16-5 since moving to Denver. The franchise is 8-13 when dropping the first game (5-9 as Avalanche).
Three Colorado players have won a Stanley Cup: Brandon Saad (2013 and 2015 with Chicago), Andre Burakovsky and Philipp Grubauer (both with the 2018 Capitals).
The Avalanche/Nordiques are 40-31 all-time in playoff overtime, 30-22 since moving to Denver. Five current players have scored a playoff OT goal.

ONE TIMERS

Head coach Jared Bednar on being physical in the playoffs: "I think you have to play physical. You got to fight for space out there, you got to earn your ice. That means not just on the forecheck and finishing checks, but it means getting to the interior of the ice, which is going to be really important, and puck protection. There are all different kind of ways to play physical. You need be in a pack a little bit, [the Blues] like to get numbers around the puck and stocked up. They have a lot of big, heavy guys in there. I think every team that is playing in the playoffs is going to ramp up the intensity and physical play in the playoffs, and we're no different and neither are the Blues. We'll be ready for that part of the game."
Brandon Saad on nerves come playoff time: "I think any type of game, you have some nerves going until you get out there. At least for me, it's something where everyone puts pressure on themselves at this level to perform, so that's something you think about. But once you get out there, you kind of just let it flow and play another hockey game."
Valeri Nichushkin on his season: "I think it's a tough year for everybody, so many games, some breaks with COVID and everything, but me I started a little slow because I had a little surgery in the offseason. But I've gotten a little more comfortable and physically better in the season. I hope I'm ready for the playoffs."