Avs and Sharks Return to Denver for Game 6
Colorado faces a must-win versus San Jose
by Dan Vatch / ColoradoAvalanche.com
The Colorado Avalanche faces the San Jose Sharks at Pepsi Center on Monday at 8 p.m. MT in Game 6 of their second-round series. The Avalanche faces elimination for the first time in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Sharks holding a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven set.
If necessary, Game 7 will be contested on Wednesday at SAP Center in San Jose.
Recapping Game 5
The Avs fell 2-1 to the Sharks in Game 5 on Saturday in Northern California. Tyson Jost netted his first career Stanley Cup Playoffs goal with an unassisted marker in the second period, but Tomas Hertl answered for San Jose with a power-play tally at the 19:40 mark of the frame with assists coming from Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson. Hertl notched his second goal of the contest, the game-winner, early in the third period as Marc-Eduard Vlasic and Joonas Donskoi registered helpers. Colorado netminder Philipp Grubauer stopped a playoff career-high 37 shots in net while San Jose goaltender Martin Jones turned away 21 shots on goal.
What To Watch
Blocks Rock
The Sharks and Avalanche rank second and third, respectively, in blocked shots as a team during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose has blocked 212 attempts while Colorado has registered 185 blocks. The past two Stanley Cup champions each led the postseason in blocked shots (Washington 418 in 2018, Pittsburgh 438 in 2017).
Home Is Where The Wins Are
The Avalanche has gone 3-1 at Pepsi Center during the playoffs, averaging 3.50 goals per game. In those four outings, the club has successfully cancelled 86.7 percent of the penalties it has taken, allowing only two power-play goals against.
Players To Watch
Colorado: Center Nathan MacKinnon
No other skater in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs has registered more game-winning goals than MacKinnon, who has three through 10 contests. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native has tallied 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in the postseason, tied for league lead. He has registered three multi-point efforts during the playoffs and is averaging 23:42 of time on ice per game, the most of any forward in the postseason.
San Jose: Right Wing Joonas Donskoi
In his first postseason contest since suffering an injury on April 21 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Donskoi notched an assist on the game-winning goal in Game 5. The 27-year-old has 42 games of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience, recording 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) for San Jose in those outings. Donskoi posted a career-high 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) during 80 regular-season appearances this year.
The Details
Monday's clash between the Avalanche and Sharks is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT. The game can be watched nationally in the United States on NBCSN, viewed online at NBCSports.com or streamed on select devices with the NBC Sports app. The contest will be televised throughout Canada on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports. The radio broadcast can be heard locally on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com.
Tune in to Altitude TV before and after Game 6 for complete coverage of the Avs. Avalanche Face-off starts at 7:30 p.m., and the Avalanche Locker Room Report begins immediately following the conclusion of the contest.
The Avalanche will once again hold a playoff tailgate party, presented by Bud Light, outside of Pepsi Center at the Camry South Parking Lot before and during the game. The tailgate begins three hours prior to puck drop and includes a live band, DJ, food trucks, t-shirt giveaways, appearances by alumni and more. Fans without tickets to Game 6 can watch the action on giant television screens at the tailgate as well.