Rick Sadowski: Jost: Do or die Game 5 tonight; Kadri suspension upheld

3-1 Avs. Landy, Josty and Makar w Goals

This team...

Cool.

Well, another year gone and I am sure there will be "excuses". Paid millions and talk about how Stanley Cup or bust mindset and round 2 is their Achilles heel. Nothing to do but laugh at this point, no point in Game 6

Honestly thought the avs were pretty unstoppable. Pretty ugly collapse. They still have a chance to prove everyone right though. No one wins a cup without coming through some adversity imo.

Honestly thought the avs were pretty unstoppable. Pretty ugly collapse. They still have a chance to prove everyone right though. No one wins a cup without coming through some adversity imo.
- bluenote31

I just can't keep saying, "there's still a game left." They dug themselves a hole and have about buried themselves in it. If they win game 6, great, I'll be happy, but I'm just not winding myself up for disappointment.

Honestly thought the avs were pretty unstoppable. Pretty ugly collapse. They still have a chance to prove everyone right though. No one wins a cup without coming through some adversity imo.
- bluenote31

Oh, and by the way, the Avs also thought they were unstoppable. That's part of the problem.

I just can't keep saying, "there's still a game left." They dug themselves a hole and have about buried themselves in it. If they win game 6, great, I'll be happy, but I'm just not winding myself up for disappointment.
- ddMoose

Lol, they are down in the series... the Canadiens just came back from 3-1 and beat the Leafs. Avs are definitely missing Kadri. I'd like to see them pull it off.

I always find it strange when people choose misery over hope when watching sports. Your team is still in the playoffs, enjoy the ride.

Lol, they are down in the series... the Canadiens just came back from 3-1 and beat the Leafs. Avs are definitely missing Kadri. I'd like to see them pull it off.

I always find it strange when people choose misery over hope when watching sports. Your team is still in the playoffs, enjoy the ride.
- MacPatty

It is how they have lost the last 3 games is why we know the series is over. They got their asses handed to them in Vegas and took it with a smile, no fight back or anything. Game 6 will be the same, this team and some individuals just disappear once the 2nd round gets going

Oh, and by the way, the Avs also thought they were unstoppable. That's part of the problem.
- ddMoose

I think almost everyone thought the Avs were "unstoppable"... I just don't think everyone thought the Knights were good enough to stop them. I know i didn't.

It is how they have lost the last 3 games is why we know the series is over. They got their asses handed to them in Vegas and took it with a smile, no fight back or anything. Game 6 will be the same, this team and some individuals just disappear once the 2nd round gets going
- Jixer19

As much as i despise trying to cheer up Av's fans, buck up and pull the stick out of your keester... It's not over til its over.

Lol, they are down in the series... the Canadiens just came back from 3-1 and beat the Leafs. Avs are definitely missing Kadri. I'd like to see them pull it off.

I always find it strange when people choose misery over hope when watching sports. Your team is still in the playoffs, enjoy the ride.
- MacPatty

Look, I know you are right and I am typically the first one to rah rah and wave the pom poms, but in this case it's acceptance and resignation more than misery. After Donskoi scored and the second period, I was on cloud 9. You couldn't best the smile off my face with a stick. Then they did it again. They decided the game was over and relaxed. Champions don't do that, they don't take their foot off the gas until it is over.

I am so sick of the blind passes and turnovers. Vegas isn't doing it. There's no need to do it when you are up 2-0 in the third period. Bednar has to have a better game plan in critical situations like that. Just protect the damn lead first.

Right now it just blows. The emotional shift was a bit jarring and a lot of Avs fans felt it. Now they have to win in Vegas where they have not had a sense of urgency yet this series. MacKinnon has been an absolute ghost for 3 games at the biggest time of the year. So yeah, right now it's a bit doom and gloom. If they win Thursday like I said, rah rah again. I'm just not expecting much because they didn't show it to me in the previous road games.

As far as Montreal goes, they have shown more heart and guts than this team has. They not only want it, they are working for it.

I think almost everyone thought the Avs were "unstoppable"... I just don't think everyone thought the Knights were good enough to stop them. I know i didn't.
- MnGump

It's just that they look like they felt entitled to win. Like, "oh geez you mean they weren't just going to roll over and quit on us?"

Look, I know you are right and I am typically the first one to rah rah and wave the pom poms, but in this case it's acceptance and resignation more than misery. After Donskoi scored and the second period, I was on cloud 9. You couldn't best the smile off my face with a stick. Then they did it again. They decided the game was over and relaxed. Champions don't do that, they don't take their foot off the gas until it is over.

I am so sick of the blind passes and turnovers. Vegas isn't doing it. There's no need to do it when you are up 2-0 in the third period. Bednar has to have a better game plan in critical situations like that. Just protect the damn lead first.

Right now it just blows. The emotional shift was a bit jarring and a lot of Avs fans felt it. Now they have to win in Vegas where they have not had a sense of urgency yet this series. MacKinnon has been an absolute ghost for 3 games at the biggest time of the year. So yeah, right now it's a bit doom and gloom. If they win Thursday like I said, rah rah again. I'm just not expecting much because they didn't show it to me in the previous road games.

As far as Montreal goes, they have shown more heart and guts than this team has. They not only want it, they are working for it.
- ddMoose

I dont want to try and compare the Wild to the Avs, because i know the Avs are head and shoulders above the Wild, but these are the same things the Wild did in much of the 7 game series against Vegas... Took their foot off the gas, made stupid no look passes that resulted many times in turnovers and goals.

I mean watching that game last night the Avs looked much like the Wild, almost had no answer to the offensive and neutral zone onslaught of Vegas... I think i even said it out loud to myself that it looked like the Wild in Avs sweaters... I did see a lot of Avs players kind of gliding and not moving their feet while the Knights just never seemed to stop skating and pursuing. Not to mention the bad passes accross the Avs offensive zone that were getting disrupted and/or picked off, many perpetrated by Landeskog.

I'm starting to think that Vegas is just that good and they are gaining momentum just by feeding off their own relentless style of play.

I dont want to try and compare the Wild to the Avs, because i know the Avs are head and shoulders above the Wild, but these are the same things the Wild did in much of the 7 game series against Vegas... Took their foot off the gas, made stupid no look passes that resulted many times in turnovers and goals.

I mean watching that game last night the Avs looked much like the Wild, almost had no answer to the offensive and neutral zone onslaught of Vegas... I think i even said it out loud to myself that it looked like the Wild in Avs sweaters... I did see a lot of Avs players kind of gliding and not moving their feet while the Knights just never seemed to stop skating and pursuing. Not to mention the bad passes accross the Avs offensive zone that were getting disrupted and/or picked off, many perpetrated by Landeskog.

I'm starting to think that Vegas is just that good and they are gaining momentum just by feeding off their own relentless style of play.
- MnGump

The Avs played a great 1st and 2nd last night, they every bit flipped the script on Vegas and controlled play, limited attempts, and even kept Vegas' forwards from putting the puck on net. It was having the lead that made them feel comfortable, and Bednar not changing his game plan to protect the d zone.

I think a large part of the Avs looking like they are sitting still is a credit to Vegas. They are taking it to the Avs, and if you watch them enough over a season or so you'll see the book on them is to play them aggressive and tight checking. The Avs just wilt when you do that, they have no idea how to counter it. Don't give Makar and friends a chance to skate it out or make a break out pass and suddenly they are hemmed in. Which reminds me now of Makar's half ass attempt at a clear in the third last night where he just lofts it softly to the blue line and a waiting Knight.

One thing the Avs were much more effective at is dumping and chipping the puck to areas where it was easier for them to chase down than the Knights. They are going to have to adapt to this style of play because they just aren't going to be given time and space to play Harlem Ice Trotters like they think they ought to.

Vegas is totally that good, the Avs just didn't respect that and they let 7-1 go to their heads.