Jon Cooper said: “You can lose 1-0 or even 3-0 or 7-0, you can’t do anything about it. You have to forget all that and get back to work and win the next game. These are the playoffs. »
Cooper is absolutely right. The Avalanche lead 2-0 and the Stanley Cup Finals series moves to Tampa, home of the Lightning, a place he particularly likes.
The order is impressive: Cooper and his squad now have to win four of the next five games. Anything can happen, but this time it seems impossible.
I want to believe that you are forgetting the events of Match #2. Tonight we’re starting from scratch.
Except that the scenario is no longer the same.
The Lightning is a team of proud skaters. Over the years they have dominated the world of professional ice hockey. You have learned to triumph in adversity.
But I am convinced that the doubt has nested in the lightning.
Cooper is an intelligent coach.
Victor Hedman is a top defender. Ryan McDonagh is a warrior.
Steven Stamkos is doing his leadership role very well and is the one who takes the lead when the going gets tough.
Nikita Kucherov is an intelligent player who is gifted when making the most of his resources.
And Andrei Vasilevskiy always changed the game in the most tense moments.
In Denver, however, during the first two games, Avalanche players confirmed a trend that had been observed for several years.
If a team doesn’t have the speed in executing their game concept, eventually they won’t be able to reach the podium. The Avalanche are a superior team to the Lightning in terms of speed.
support players
At the start of the series, I brought up an element we needed to consider: Can Tampa’s support players compete at the same level as Colorado’s?
The answer is no. The Avalanche confirmed it beyond a doubt in the first two games of the series. “This team plays at a very high level,” said Cooper. But we can do better on our side. »
On this point we all agree.
But this time Cooper, who knows how to make adjustments, is annoyed: how can we slow down the Avalanche’s lightning attack? During the next two games in Tampa, how can we limit the visits of the opponent, who has developed a malicious delight in spoilsport in Vasilevskiy’s yard, to the point of hindering the actions of the Defense Brigade? . .. usually so reliable and so solid?
never seen
The speed
The speed of the Avalanche also thwarted the plans of the opponent’s best teams. Stamkos, Kucherov, Point and Palat don’t worry Darcy Kuemper.
But on the contrary.
Why ?
Because they don’t have the puck. And if they do manage to touch the disc, one or two Colorado players always intervene.
There’s also Cale Makar and his group, who are quick to cause confusion for the Lightning when they restart their formation’s attack. Immediately at the flash there is a recoil reaction.
We try to quickly cling to the defenses, but the reaction time is not enough to build a wall at the level of the blue line.
The doubt
The Avalanche attack with such force that they destabilize the Lightning.
The Lightning can certainly do better. This team will find an audience that has satisfied them in recent years. But the question remains: can Lightning players forget the doubt that seems to have crept into their analysis of the two Denver games?
Past experience proves that Cooper and his group have always found a way to set the record straight. But does the opponent have all the resources to take serious revenge this time?
Tampa isn’t going to get any faster in 48 hours.
Vasilevskiy can prove to be a significant obstacle on the path of the avalanche so far.
Aside from the fact that the opponent is the most formidable, intimidating and toughest he has faced in years. And what complicates his task is that his teammates haven’t found an answer to fight back against a heated rival.
” This evening [samedi], we played with passion, we were a hungry group, a determined group. A dangerous group,” said Jared Bednar.
“Dangerous” is the word that sums up the Colorado Avalanche well.
Culture and… speed
Kent Hughes’ message upon his arrival in Montreal revolved around two elements: we need to find our culture and we need to recruit fast players. The Colorado Avalanche is an example to follow. Joe Sakic’s patience has served him well, allowing him to complete transactions that fit the organization’s needs while recruiting top-notch skaters. Hughes has the right elements to revitalize the franchise if he sticks to his business model built on youth and speed… Kyle Dubas has fired goalkeeping coach Steve Briere, but was he to blame for Petr Mrazek’s setbacks? Will Dubas try his luck alongside Kuemper, Gibson, Fleury, all goalkeepers waiting for the right deal?…
Are the Chicago Blackhawks Trying to Trade Alex DeBrincat Rumors True? Hard to believe? Is Patrick Kane an untouchable? Yeah, until the Blackhawks get an offer that’s hard to refuse…
Did Joel Quenneville ask Gary Bettman to review his record? It seems so, and some teams are awaiting the commissioner’s decision before making a final decision on hiring a coach…
