It’s been a while since the Avalanche played an elimination game in which they can clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff series. That’s the case now with a 3-1 lead against Calgary in the best-of-seven first-round series.
They had a 3-2 series lead against Minnesota in the opening round in 2014, lost 5-2 at the Xcel Energy in Game 6 and blew several leads on the way to a 5-4 overtime loss at the Pepsi Center in Game 7.
It’s why the Avalanche aren’t taking anything for granted Friday against the Flames in Game 5 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Doesn’t mean they’ll win and move on to the second round for the first time since knocking out the Wild in 2008, of course.
The Avalanche coaches and players have been raving about the support they have been getting at the Pepsi Center, but they really don’t want to have to use a Game 6 there to advance.
GAME NOTES
Let’s face it, the Flames could easily have a 3-1 lead, having lost two games in overtime. It’d be 2-2 if
Philipp Grubauer doesn’t make that ridiculous overtime save against
Mikael Backlund on Wednesday. The Flames also squandered a late lead before each OT.
Calgary did lose four games in a row once during the season, from March 2-7 to Minnesota and Toronto at home, followed by road losses to Vegas and Arizona.
But their season wasn’t on the line then, and they did go 26-10-5 at the Saddledome.
"I think (it will be) that much more desperation on their side,” Avalanche captain
Gabriel Landeskog told reporters after the morning skate. “For them, they’re at home, they want to make sure that they give it their all, they’re not going to save it for anything. They’re going to come out and really empty their tanks.
“For us, it’ll be the same thing. We know what game it is and how important it is. For us, we want to make sure we keep this thing going. We’ve played well the last three games, really, and we’ve been able to get some results.”
Scoring the first goal will be crucial to help quiet the crowd. So will staying out of the penalty box; the Flames have a power-play goal in every game, three on home ice.
The Avalanche can’t expect to get 50-plus shots on goalie
Mike Smith for a third straight game, so they’ll have to make the most of the shots they do get.
And, of course, Grubauer will need to be on his game. He’s been very good, but he hasn’t been tested the way Smith has.
Oh, and Calgary native
Cale Makar is part of the “enemy” now. It’ll be interesting to see how the 20-year-old defenseman plays against the team he grew up cheering for in front of the red-clad crowd.
Derick Brassard and
Samuel Girard remain out.
Probable lineup:
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Alexander Kerfoot
Colin Wilson -- Carl Soderberg -- Mikko Rantanen
Matt Nieto – J.T. Compher -- Matt Calvert
Sven Andrighetto – Tyson Jost -- Gabriel Bourque
Ian Cole -- Erik Johnson
Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth -- Cale Makar
Philipp Grubauer
Semyon Varlamov
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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