- After being down 1-3, the Colorado Avalanche managed to force Game 7 in their series with the Dallas Stars.
- The franchise from Denver defeated Dallas 4-1 last night.
- Even though Stars scored first, Jared Bednar’s boys managed to make a massive comeback.
Colorado Maintains the Swing
We wrote about the desires of Colorado’s fans, and that is to follow Denver Nuggets’ example. Jokic and the boys came back from 1-3 in the series, eventually eliminating Utah Jazz in seven games. They are now getting ready to clash with the LA Clippers.
It seems that the Avalanche are trying very hard to repeat that, and are one game away from their goal. Last night, they defeated the Stars 4-1, forcing Game 7. Now, that is something that brings back bad memories and puts additional pressure on Dallas’ players. All of them are still remembering last years’ experience against the St. Louis Blues.
“We all know what happened last year. We were in this position (up 3-2 against the St. Louis Blues in second round), a chance to win it in Game 6 on home ice. … Game 7 we lost last year,” reminded Tyler Seguin.
Though things started well for his side, with Miro Heiskanen scoring the first goal of the game and providing a lead for the franchise from Texas. Mattias Janmark assisted the Fin who hit the back of the net at 2:25 to go. It was Heiskanen’s seventh consecutive playoff match in which he managed to put his name on the scoresheet, either as a scorer or as an assistant, which is the record for one Stars defenceman.
However, that advantage didn’t last for too long as Nikita Zadorov leveled the score with 32 seconds to go until the end of the first period.
Cale Makar would score for the Avalanche at 7:48 of the middle frame, after a drop pass from Mikko Rantanen, who would then net one goal himself in the third period, 3:21 into the same. That was the moment when Avalanche seized the decisive lead, and what is more important got a massive boost of morale.
MacKinnon’s Streak Continues
Rantanen’s goal followed Nathan MacKinnon’s assist, which meant that the 25-year old extended his streak of matches in which he posted at least one point. In the meantime, he would score himself, with 2:36 until the end of the game, using the empty net of the Stars’ goal after they pulled out the goalie Anton Khudobin.
This was his 14th straight match since the start of the playoff with an assist or a goal, which now ties him with Mark Messier and Bobby Orr in the second place of the all-time list. MacKinnon is four games short of Bryan Trottier’s record form 1981.
“You have to learn from what you did well every night and what you need to work on,” Colorado’s superstar said. “We’re going to do that. We’re going to review this game, find some things we need to improve on, but also build on the positives things.”
Game 7 of this exciting series takes place on Friday.
