Avs Focusing on Themselves Entering Game 2

The Colorado Avalanche is expecting a more competitive contest tonight in Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but much like in Game 1, the Avs are not worried about the opposition and are determined to play their game.
The Avalanche won 7-1 in the opener of the best-of-seven set at Ball Arena on Sunday. Ahead of that matchup, Colorado had a full week between games to practice and rest up for its next series while Vegas competed in an emotional Game 7 against the Minnesota Wild to secure its second-round berth just 48 hours prior.
"We know that they are going to want to bounce back, they probably didn't like the way they played in Game 1," said forward J.T. Compher. "I think in our locker room, we are worried about ourselves and our start. We want to make sure that we are coming with the same speed and attack mentality that we had in Game 1."

In Sunday's outing, Colorado had a 2-0 advantage at the first intermission and doubled its lead in the first 4:03 of the second period. Starting the contest strong will be one of the objectives for the team again in Game 2.

The Avalanche held a 14-8 edge in shots on goal in the first frame of the series opener and scored the game's first five goals. Colorado also limited the Golden Knights to single-digit shots in all three stanzas.
"You want to get out and play your game, play to our identity right away. Last game that meant skating, relentless puck pursuit. Has to be the same here tonight because we know we're going to get their best game," said head coach Jared Bednar. "Coming out of that, they've got that extra day of rest now, they've regrouped, they're ready to come after us here and they know it's an important game, and as do we. So the start will be really important."
The Avs, who are averaging a league-high 5.4 goals-per-game this postseason, are the first NHL team to win their first five playoff games by three-plus goals each since the New York Rangers did it in their first six contests in 1994.
"Obviously we were good offensively, scored a lot of goals so that was enough to win the game," Joonas Donskoi said of Game 1. "Tonight, it's going to be a whole new game again. I think they'll be better tonight, and we have to be better as well to be able to get a win tonight."

NOTEWORTHY

The Avalanche has started a playoff year 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. The five straight wins ties the Colorado record (since 1995-96) for consecutive wins at any point of a playoff run. The team also won five in a row twice in 1996 and once in 1999. The Avs are one shy of the franchise mark of six straight postseason victories set by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987.
Colorado is 3-0 at home this postseason and going back to the regular season has won 12 straight at Ball Arena and is 19-0-1 in its last 20 contests on home ice.
The Avs have scored five or more goals in four straight playoff games for the first time in franchise history.
Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the league with eight goals, is just the seventh player in NHL history with eight or more goals through five games in a playoff year and the first since Ray Ferraro in 1993.
Cale Makar had a postseason career-high four points (one goal, three assists) in Game 1, the first four-point effort by an Avalanche defenseman in the playoffs since Rob Blake in Game 1 of the 2001 Western Conference Quarterfinals versus Vancouver (April 12, 2001).
Brandon Saad has scored in each of the last four contests, a career high for him and the longest goal streak by an Avalanche player in the postseason since Gabriel Landeskog (four) from April 14-20, 2018. Saad's run is tied for the fourth-longest in franchise playoff history, trailing only Claude Lemieux (seven, 1996-97), Joe Sakic (seven, 1995-96) and Michel Goulet (five, 1984-85).

ONE TIMERS

Joonas Donskoi on Brandon Saad: "I feel like you just know every time he goes on the ice what you're going to get. He's super [good] at making good decisions with the puck, super strong on the puck in the offensive zone. He's able to find those little holes to score goals, getting tips, getting open in front of the net and he has some skills to score some goals, so he's obviously a big player for us."
Head coach Jared Bednar on the team's depth scoring: "I've liked our depth scoring through the playoffs. Obviously, our top line has really led the way and got us some real good starts so far here in the playoffs through five games, but I'm not disappointed in our other lines either. They played well the other night, they had some good O-zone time, some good looks, we had Saad score again. I think we're getting the contributions that we need to win hockey games and that has to continue whether that's every night or every second night, but we need our whole lineup. I liked our game throughout. All six D and 12 forwards that played the other night played well and that has to continue tonight, especially with the game we're going to see from Vegas tonight."