Avalanche Weekly Update - April 18

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First Round vs. Calgary Flames

The first-round series between the Avalanche and the Flames shifts back to Calgary for Game 5 on Friday night with Colorado leading the series 3-1. The Avs have won three straight games and own a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series for the first time since the 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Dallas (Colorado won the series 4-1). The Avalanche is 9-2 all-time when taking a 3-1 lead in a playoff series. Mikko Rantanen leads the Avs with six points (3g/3a) in the series, which is tied for fifth in the league. Nathan MacKinnon has five points (3g/2a) through the first four contests, including a league-high (tied) two goals on the power play. His three points with the man advantage is tied for third in the NHL.

Avalanche First-Round Playoff Schedule

| Date | Time (MT) | #1 Calgary vs. WC2 Colorado | TV Networks/Results | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Thursday, April 11 | 8 p.m. | Colorado at Calgary | L, 4-0 | | Saturday, April 13 | 8:30 p.m. | Colorado at Calgary | W, 3-2 (OT) | | Monday, April 15 | 8 p.m. | Calgary at Colorado | W, 6-2 | | Wednesday, April 17 | 8 p.m. | Calgary at Colorado | W, 3-2 (OT) | | Friday, April 19 | 8 p.m. | Colorado at Calgary | Altitude, NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports | | \Sunday, April 21 | TBD | Calgary at Colorado | TBD | | \Tuesday, April 23 | TBD | Colorado at Calgary | TBD |
*If necessary

Player Spotlight: Matt Nieto

Nieto has scored two short-handed goals in Colorado's first-round series against the Flames, becoming the first player in Avalanche history (since 1995-96) to register two short-handed goals in a single playoff series. Nieto's two tallies on the penalty kill matches the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques franchise record for most such markers in a postseason, and he is the second player in franchise history to score a short-handed goal in consecutive team games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, joining Andre Savard in Game 2 and 3 of the 1984 Division Semifnals against Buffalo.

Quotable

"Obviously, tonight it was a great team effort again. You know, we go down in the third, but there's a lot to believe in this team and we believe we can do it every night. Obviously in OT, Carl (Colorado C Carl Soderberg) made an unreal pass ,so I just tried to get it to the net and this time it went in. It was big." -Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen following Colorado's come-from-behind win over Calgary in Game 4

More Links

• Playoff Player Statistics

• Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket

• Avalanche Playoff Central

• Practice Schedule via @AvsPR