2020 NHL Stanley Cup Series Review: (2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (7) Arizona Coyotes

It was a David vs. Goliath match, as the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche faced an Arizona Coyotes team that were dragged to the first round on the back of their goaltending. While a hot goalie can take a team far in the playoffs, sometimes it's just not enough. This was the case here, as Colorado's offense was too much for Arizona to handle. The Avalanche finished the Coyotes off in five games to advance to the second round.

Games

Arizona Coyotes - 0

Colorado Avalanche - 3

Most of this game belonged to the goalies, especially Darcy Kuemper. The Coyotes goalie would keep his team in it for the first two periods, stopping all 17 Avalanche shots he faced in the time frame. Colorado would finally break through in the third. A powerplay opportunity led to a scramble in the slot, which resulted in Nazem Kadri getting enough of the puck so it would trickle past Kuemper and into the back of the net. Colorado's lead would double seconds later, as JT Compher would backhand rebound past a downed Kuemper. The Avalanche would cap off their scoring a minute later, as the big three (Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen) connected on a tic-tac-toe play. Arizona failed to muster much of an attack, as Phillipp Grubauer stopped all 14 shots he faced in his shutout effort. The 3-0 win put Colorado ahead in the series.

Arizona Coyotes - 2

Colorado Avalanche - 3

 

The Avalanche didn't take long to get on the scoreboard this game. Minutes into the opening frame, MacKinnon would take a bank-pass off the boards, skate in uncontested, and beat Kuemper glove-side to make it 1-0 Colorado. Arizona wouldn't be as quiet as last game though. Despite a couple of good chances earlier, it wasn't until late in the period when the Coyotes managed to tie the game. Clayton Keller's one-timer would be stopped by Grubauer, but the rebound was poked in by an Avalanche defender trying to clear the puck from the crease. Colorado regained the lead early in the second, as Tyson Jost redirected Cale Maker's point shot passed a screened Kuemper. It didn't take Arizona as long as last time to tie it again. Michael Grabner would race into the Colorado zone to get the loose puck, step in to the slot, and snipe it over Grubauer's glove to make it a 2-2 game. Both teams would exchange chances, but neither goalie would crack. It took until late in the third when a go-ahead goal would be scored. Kadri's shot attempt was blocked, but bounced to an open Andre Burakovsky, who proceeded to one-time the loose puck just past Kuemper's skate and into the net. That was all Colorado needed, as they hung on to win the game 3-2. 

 

Colorado Avalanche - 2

Arizona Coyotes - 4

Arizona would put the pressure on early in this game, and would be reward. About six-and-a-half minutes in, Keller would find Derek Stepan in the slot, who then proceeded to swipe the puck over Pavel Francouz and into the net. It would then be Colorado's turn on the attack, but a combination of Kuemper and the posts reserved Arizona's lead after the first. The Avalanche kept up the pressure in the second, and were rewarded. A shot by Burakovsky would hit a defender's shin pad and bounce past a screened Kuemper to tie the game. The period didn't end tied though. With half-a-minute left in the second, Conor Garlnad found an open Brad Richardson on a cross-ice pass. Richardson's shot found it's way over Francouz's arm and into the net. Arizona hung onto that scoreline for most of the third. It looked like Taylor Hall may have put the game away with an empty net goal with 1:20 to go in the game. The Avalanche did response though, as a pass attempt by Rantanen bounced off a couple of Coyotes defenders on its way into the net. Lawson Crouse would put the game away for good, scoring an empty net goal with five seconds left. The win gave Arizona their first of the series.

Colorado Avalanche - 7

Arizona Coyotes - 1

Not looking to have a repeat of last game, the Avalanche turned on the pressure early. Despite some good chances, it wasn't until later in the period when they found the scoreboard. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a 2-on-1 with Matt Nieto and Matt Calvert. Nieto was the one who finished it off by redirecting the puck with his skate into the net, putting the Avalanche up 1-0. It would become the Kadri Show late in the first, as the Avalanche forward potted a couple of powerplay goals to put his team up by three. The 3-0 lead didn't deter Colorado's attack, as they looked to extend the lead. Joonas Donskoi would do just that midway through the second, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Burakovsky to make it a four-goal lead. A powerplay opportunity moments later helped Arizona get on the board, as Jacob Chychrun's shot from the top of the circle beat Grubauer's blocker to break the shutout. Kuemper's night would finish after the second period, as Antti Raanta was placed in Arizona's net for the third. It didn't help the Coyotes much, as just 19 seconds in, Makar beat a defender and beat Raanta with a backhand shot. Minutes later, Calvert would bang home a loose puck to make it a 6-1 game. Things started getting rough midway through the period, as a boarding call on Crouse led to Christian Fischer and MacKinnon going at it. Crouse was called for boarding while both MacKinnon and Fischer were called for roughing (with Fischer getting a double minor). That extra two minutes was advantageous for the Avalanche, as it led to a Rantanen powerplay goal. That's were the Avalanche offense left things, as they handily beat the Coyotes 7-1.

 

Arizona Coyotes - 1

Colorado Avalanche - 7

Similar themes from last game showed up in this one, such as Arizona's penalty troubles and the deadliness of the Avalanche powerplay. First powerplay goal came about five minutes in, as Kadri finished off a tic-tac-toe play with a one-timer from the slot to put Colorado ahead 1-0. Four minutes later, it was Samuel Girard's turn, as the Avalanche defenseman's shot from the blue line beat a screened Kuemper. Kadri added another goal before the period ended (this time at even strength), as he went in on a breakaway and slide it through Kuemper. Colorado kept up the pressure in the second, but Kuemper did his best to keep Arizona in it....then it was MacKinnon time. Midway through the period, the Avalanche forward added to Colorado's lead with a blast from near the top of the circle. Just under a minute later, MacKinnon would get his second of the game with a similar shot (both in type and location). He topped it off late in the period, with his point shot getting redirected by Nikita Zadorov on it's way into the net. Arizona did manage to get on the board in the third, as Keller redirected a shot past Grubauer. That would be all the offense the Coyotes would muster. Compher added one more late in the third, as for the second game in a row, Colorado won 7-1. That was the fourth of the series for them, as the Avalanche moved on to the second round.

Three Thoughts on the Series

1. Credit to Kuemper for keeping the Coyotes in it for keeping Arizona in it for the first part of the series.
   
2. Nice to see Kadri make the second round. He had a hell of a series.
   
3. On the other side, poor Taylor Hall. Dude can't catch a break.
   

Picture of the Series

This MacKinnon guy is pretty good.

Highlight of the Series

 

Makar ends Goligoski's career, just shows no mercy during a blowout.