Instant reaction from the Avalanche’s 6-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
1. Mikko’s second stick worked: Ya know, sometimes, it’s the equipment’s fault, right? With 10:41 left in the Avalanche’s series-wrapping win at Winnipeg on Tuesday night, Mikko Rantanen was so cheesed off he went all Bo Jackson on his stick. The Moose missed a great look at the net off a killer set-up from Cale Makar and was so enraged, he turned his sword to kindling. It did the trick. The Avs’ underrated winger rebounded for two goals in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie off a tip 4:11 into the final stanza, then putting the game — and series — away on a classic breakaway wrister for a fifth Colorado goal from the left faceoff circle via a feed from a streaking Nathan MacKinnon. It proved to be the first two goals of the series for Rantanen, who more than made up for lost time. And capped a remarkable four-game win streak.
2. Puck luck taketh, then given back: Say this for the hockey gods: For at least 40 minutes, they didn’t play favorites. Granted, the karma looked ugly early when Avalanche defender Josh Manson fired it off his own guy and past Alexandar Georgiev for a 1-0 Winnipeg lead after 75 seconds. Fortunately for the burgundy and blue, the own-goal karma evened out. With 6:15 left in the second stanza, Artturi Lehkonen fired a knuckler from the left faceoff circle toward the opposite side of the crease. Cue the puck luck, as Jets defender Neal Pionk jabbed at the loose biscuit with his stick and knocked it past a stunned Connor Hellebuyck in goal, giving the Avs an unusual route to a 3-2 lead.
3. Big Val ties big record: Valeri Nichushkin’s laser-like wrister off a sweet Devon Toews feed 3:18 into the game didn’t just get the Avs on the board — it got Big Val into the franchise record books. The goal was his seventh of the series, which ties a team mark for the most goals in one playoff series, shared by four players in the annals of the Nordiques/Avs. Linemate Mikko Rantanen was the last Colorado skater to hit that threshold, with seven last year in the first round against Seattle. Joe Sakic (1996 vs. Vancouver) and Real Cloutier (1982 vs. Boston with Quebec) also hit on seven in a series.
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