The Colorado Avalanche was 20 minutes from a different kind of frustrating defeat Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Now it’s one win from having a stranglehold on the series.
Colorado steamrolled its way to five third-period goals in Game 3, collecting a 6-2 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven opening-round playoff series. There isn’t much time before Game 4 — it’s a Sunday matinee at Ball Arena.
Here are the three keys for the Avalanche:
1. Home sweet home
We’re not talking about the game being in Denver. The Avalanche has scored 15 goals in three games against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, and a significant portion of them have come because Colorado is creating chances in the “home-plate area” in front of the Winnipeg net. The Avs are also winning battles for loose pucks and rebounds in that portion of the ice.
They only had one goal through two periods in Game 3, in part because most of their best chances came from distance and without a lot of traffic in front of Hellebuyck. If the Avs continue to create enough chaos in front of the soon-to-be 2024 Vezina Trophy winner, they’re likely going to win this series.
2. Keep hounding them
How the Avs like to play without the puck is integral to how much success they create with it. That doesn’t change, but Colorado has proven this Winnipeg team can wobble when under duress. The Jets were an elite defense and goaltending team during the regular season, but the Avs have 17 goals in this series because of the issues the Jets are having when they have the puck. Harassing Jets players into giving up the puck or making poor decisions with it has been the best way to not let Winnipeg get set up defensively to try and frustrate the Avalanche.
3. Match the energy
This isn’t a must-win game for the Jets, but how Game 4 plays out could make it one. The Avs have controlled the play for much longer in all three games. Colorado is a couple more saves from a 3-0 series lead.
Winnipeg has to collectively summon something more. Even if the Jets don’t get the series back even, a hard-fought loss where the Jets were able to play more like they want to would give them more hope with two of the final three games at home. That sounds like a recipe for the road team to come out flying. If the Avs can continue to dictate terms in Game 4, there’s a pathway to a quick series — which isn’t something most people thought was possible a week ago.
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