Avalanche's Western Conference Final Takeaways

The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001 after completing the sweep over the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 Western Conference Final. The methodical effort from the Avalanche reflected that of an ultra-determined group, who utilized and executed a 'next man up' mentality when the stakes were at the highest yet.
Here are a few takeaways from the Avalanche's Western Conference Final:

FULL-TEAM EFFORT:

The Avalanche executed a full-team effort in the Western Conference Final as they had 16-of-20 skaters record at least a point in the four-game series and had 10 of those 16 skaters produce multi-point outings.
Cale Makar paced the team with nine points (2G, 7A), including a five-point (1G, 4A) effort in the Avalanche's successful closeout Game 4. Mikko Rantanen led the team in goals with four, while also tallying two assists.

HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSE

Colorado's offense averaged 5.50 goals for per game, the most in the NHL throughout the series. In addition to scoring four-plus goals in all four games, the team also put up six-plus goals twice in the series (Games 1 and 4). The Avs also averaged the most shots for per game of the remaining teams with a nightly average of 40.7 shots.
Including Makar and Rantanen, Artturi Lehkonen (2G, 4A), Gabriel Landeskog (2G, 4A), Nathan MacKinnon (3G, 2A), Devon Toews (1G, 4A), Nazem Kadri (1G, 3A), J.T. Compher (3G), Valeri Nichushkin (2G), Andrew Cogliano (1G, 1A), all recorded multi-point efforts in the four-game series.
Of the game-winning goals in the series, Lehkonen scored two of them - including the series clinching goal in overtime of Game 4 - while Cogliano and Compher also came through clutch with game-winning strikes.

BLUELINE CONTRIBUTIONS

Makar dominated contributions from Colorado's bluelines with his nine points (2G, 7A) in the series, highlighted by his five-point outing in Game 4. But the Avalanche also benefited from Toews' five-point (1G, 4A) series, a goal from Josh Manson, an assist from Bowen Byram and his plus-five rating and a plus-four rating from Erik Johnson.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Avalanche completed the Western Conference Final going 4-for-16 on the power play at 25.0% and converted twice on the man advantage in Game 4. Makar led the team with three points (1G, 2A) on the power play, while he, Rantanen, MacKinnon and Kadri all lit the lamp on the man advantage.
On the penalty kill, Colorado finished the series 9-for-11 and a PK% of 81.8%.

GOALTENDING

Darcy Kuemper made the start in Game 1 of the series, but left the game at 7:19 in the second period due to an upper-body injury and had made 13 saves prior. In his place,
Pavel Francouz took over and made 18 saves on 21 shots in relief and finished out the series.
Francouz finished the series with four wins, 99 saves on 109 shots, a .908 SV%, a 2.81 GAA and one shutout.
One positive development for the Avalanche would be that Kuemper backed up Francouz for Game 4 of the series.

NEXT MAN UP:

In addition to Kuemper going down and Francouz taking his place,
Nazem Kadri suffered an upper-body injury in his first shift of Game 3 and did not play the remainder of the series
and was taken back to Denver for further evaluation.
In his place, Rantanen occupied the center position for the Avalanche's second line and skated between Lehkonen and Andre Burakovsky.

DEFENSIVE DETAILS:

While Colorado certainly flexed its offensive capabilities against the Oilers, perhaps more impressively was the defensive detail and execution to stymie one of the highest scoring offenses led by two of the highest point producers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Following a barn burner of a Game 1 of the WCF - which the Avs won 8-6 - Colorado shut out the Oilers 4-0 in Game 2 and held them to a 3.25 gals average per game. The Avalanche did their best to contain McDavid who entered the series with 26 points (7G, 19A) through 12 games and finished the four games against Colorado with his team-leading seven points (3G, 4A). Draisaitl totaled six assists in the series, posting four of those helpers in Game 4.

Video: COL@EDM, Gm4: Lehkonen sends Avalanche to cup final

LEHKONEN STRIKES TWICE:

For the second year in a row, Lehkonen scored the overtime goal to not only clinch the series, but to send his team to the Stanley Cup Final as the Finnish winger did so in Colorado's dramatic 6-5 OT thriller in Game 4 and as he did so last season in Game 6 to send Montreal past Vegas.

Video: COL@EDM, Gm4: Avalanche accept Clarence Campbell Bowl

2022 STANLEY CUP FINAL:

The Avalanche will continue to maximize this window of rest and will return to practice this week as they await the end result between the New York Rangers and two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions in the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are currently tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference Final.
Regardless of the eventual opponent, the Avalanche will have the advantage of home ice in the Stanley Cup Final.