Well, you know how it goes, “If you don’t succeed, try again.” The Colorado Avalanche had put forth valiant efforts with this group of core players since the 2017 season and, unfortunately, could never even make it to the conference final. But in these 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, they ran roughshod over their counterparts in the Western Conference, taking the top seed at 56-19-7 and going 12-2 in the tournament en route to their first Stanley Cup final since winning the title in 2001. The Avs swept aside the Nashville Predators, dispatched the ST Louis Blues in six, and routed the Edmonton Oilers for the conference title. On Monday night, Artturi Lehkonen sent his team to the finals for the second straight year(He was with Canadians last year) with the overtime winner to polish off the Avs 6-5 overtime win in Edmonton to complete their second sweep of the playoffs and are soaring into the finals. Whether it’s the Lightning or Rangers as their opponent, they’ll have to deal with Cale Makar, arguably the best defenseman in the league. The 23-year-old defenseman has an astounding 22 points in 14 games these playoffs, including a five-point night in the conference-clinching game 4. He’s a Norris Trophy candidate for his 38 points in 74 games during the regular season and hasn’t looked back since the start of the playoffs.
As for the others, Colorado lost Samuel Girard due to injury due to a broken sternum he sustained in round two, but when one man goes down, then another one must step up, and it’s Bowen Byram who has come through. The 20-year-old sophomore has seven points in 14 games and has stayed healthy after experiencing multiple concussions over the past couple of seasons.
For Edmonton, it was an unfortunate end to a historic postseason for Conner Mcdavid(33 points in 16 games, shutout twice) and Leon Draisatel(32 points in 14 games, shutout twice) combined for 65 points(4 points a game), the most ever by a duo since 1980. But the Oilers were undone by the weak defense and poor goaltending by Mike Smith, whose gaffes throughout the series are what led to it being a sweep because this matchup felt closer than that, with the scores of 8-6, 4-0, 4-2, and 6-5.
But the Avalanche are the ones in the Stanley Cup finals. They will be battle-tested by the winner of the Eastern Conference final between the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the cinderella story that is the New York Rangers, who are tied 2-2 with game five Thursday night at MSG. Not having Nazeem Kadri, who took a dirty check into the boards by Evander Kane of Edmonton, which required thumb surgery, prompting fans to say it was karma for him ramming into Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and knocking him out for the series in game three of the second round in St Louis. Kadri was making a case for the Conn Smythe trophy should the Avs win the cup, as he had 14 points in 13 games these playoffs.
Then, of course, the star-power reigns over the team in Nathan McKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog. Mac is the second-best in the West today and is having a torrid postseason with 18 points in 12 games fighting through injury while also coming off an 87-point season with 39 goals. Meanwhile, Gabriel Landeskog only played 63 games in the regular season as he was comprised due to injury, but has put up 17 points in 14 games with a +\- of 14 thus far. They’re the leaders and the engines of a team that looks like a juggernaut and have the silver chalice firmly in its sights. But perhaps one man that yearns to bring it home specifically in Denver is 34-year-old defensive defensemen Erik Johnson, who the Avalanche acquired as part of a four-player trade on Feb. 19, 2011, and he’s been here ever since. Before the 2015-16 season, Colorado signed Johnson to a seven-year contract extension through the 2022-23 season, so it’s integral he wins one with the Avs before he’s a free agent and his career could be coming to a close.
But the potential undoing for the Avalanche in the final is undoubtedly goaltending. It's been an uncharacteristic postseason for netminders in the West, and Colorado hasn't been immune to it.
Darcy Kuemper was injured during Game 1 and missed Games 2-4 of the series against the Oilers, leaving his status for the first tilt of the finale beginning at Ball arena uneven.
Backup Pavel Francouz recorded a shutout in Game 2 but allowed five goals in a forgettable Game 4 performance.
However, Kuemper was able to back him up, which was a promising sign. The time off will be beneficial to him, playing up to the price they acquired him for this past offseason, trading a 2022 first-round pick and young two-way player Conner Timmins for the man they hope to be the missing piece that will rewrite the story and help this team cement their legacy as the most predominant Avalanche team of all time. All they need are four more wins.
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