+ Money

Avalanche to win game 1 and the Series 

+110

max play

@Nedtan

If you can find or get it, you would be better to take the Avs to win the series and any Avs player to win the Conn Smythe trophy at +131. 

@Nedtan   

@DB51daBEARS

@Charo757

My book had it at -115

@Nedtan

With Darcy Kuemper in net for the Avs? 

3 more to go

Hey Nedtan,

Thinking 2 to get to the mountaintop after tonight.  Avs blocked as many shots as Bolts in Game 1.  None of the Avs goals were cheap ones, and this will be a major test of the greatness of Vasilevskiy.  He's allowed to be above-average, but that might not be enough.  Cooper is acknowledged as a great coach with ability to adjust his team to the situation.  But the conditioning and speed of the Avs is not the same as the Leafs or the Rangers, and telling your guys what they need to do doesn't always translate.

Victor Hedman isn't having a great playoffs, and he's not hitting or blocking shots compared to his reputation.  McDonagh is also sucking wind, and they took turns watching the 3rd goal and the OT goal without being able to make a play.  Forget about the tripping call...#27 was in position but was puck watching to make it 3-1.  Vasilevskiy will have all the pressure on him, especially in period number one.  

Seem like people assume it's gonna be 1-1 going back to Tampa.  If the Avs go up 2-0, can the bolts win 4 outta 5???  Nobody believes that.  All the more reason for the Avs to be motivated...and for #29 to let the home town fans know he's still the best player on the ice tonight.

Cheers  

@DB51daBEARS

 Great write up daBears. Enjoyed that read, and I 100% agree. The last thing the avalanche want is going back to Tampa tied 1-1. I wholeheartedly believe we see an even better effort tonight from Colorado - heading into Tampa up 2-0 and putting that 7-0 road record to the test! 

Let’s go avalanche 

Looks like Colorado underperformed game 1, not the other way around 

LOL Nedtan...nobody though the Avs had a 6th gear...

Josh Manson's dad is the DC on the Oilers...gotta be super proud...35 yr old Darren Helm is out skating everybody lmao

Hey Nedtan,

Call me superstitious, but first, let me apologize for crashing your thread today without being asked for a comment or opinion, and second, I'm just gonna go with the good luck that's here in your thread from Games 1 and 2.

Looking at the box scores from those games, the Bolts 2nd line/checking line (Hagel-Cirelli-Killorn) wasn't able to do their job.  And Cooper said during Game 1 after the Bolts made it 2-1 that he wasn't gonna chase with his checking line but let the game come to them, which makes complete sense because trying to mix and match on the fly in the Avs' barn would be impossible.  That said, they didn't have an impact.  The Point line/3rd line with Colton and Paul was not noticeable except for the Nick Paul's ("hello...look what I found") controlling that bouncing/rolling pass when Eric Johnson was watching the action across ice and let Paul go right around him to the inside and score.  The Bellemare line/4th line with Maroon and Perry had no impact...same result in Game 2.  Brayden Point (game time decision tonight) hasn't been able to help the team no matter how hard he's grinding.  The Bolts top line of Stamkos-Kucherov-Palat was 17-18-13 TOI in Game 1 and 14-18-14 TOI in Game 2 and got outworked by whichever line they faced.  They never quit, though, and almost pulled off the Game 1 upset.

Being back home at sea level, and with an amped up crowd, you'd have to expect a much better performance from the Bolts.  But their checking line will still be chasing after the first half of the 1st period, and you have to wonder how much gas some of their big bodies will have in the tank when periods 2 and 3 roll around.  We have to assume Vasilevskiy will be hugely improved back with familiar ice and boards, and we can expect Kuemper to be uncomfortable with the noise and the unfamiliar ice and boards.

The Bolts prefer a more structured game, for sure, but can they dictate the pace of play?  They need to possess the puck to do that, and the Avs weren't allowing that in the first two games.  Can the Bolts win 4 outta 5?  No chance of that with two more games in Colorado, if necessary.  Burakovsky (2G/1A including the OT winner) is a game time decision for the Avs with a hand injury, and that's important.  Kadri will probably play in Game 4.

This would be the night to let it all hang out; down 3-0 would be devastating.  Vasilevskiy has to make the difference tonight.  He's way good enough to dictate the score, and his teammates know he's their last best hope to give them a chance.  Colorado will want to keep their foot on the gas, but they can let up mentally while still playing the game at the highest level.  MacKinnon will not let up mentally (lol) and he hasn't notched a goal yet.  Gotta think Tampa Bay will play smarter and not try to force the forecheck.  Gotta take them to get back in the series...TB ML -110.

Cheers, and thanks again, Nedtan   

@DB51daBEARS

  
You know way more about hockey than I do. Just got back home drunk from dinner lol - thanks for stopping by man, you’re always welcome. Tampa ties it 1-1 as I’m typing.. interesting if Tampa pulls this one out.. you gotta think they’ll take game 4 no? 

let’s see 

Hey Nedtan,

Thanks much...appreciate you leaving the "welcome" sign out lol.  Drunk sounds pretty good to me right now...but I'm out of wine and spirits (not a beer guy)!!!

Tampa's up but why do I feel like I've spent an hour in the dentist's chair!!!

No clue about Game 4, buddy...yep, we'll see...all the best  

@DB51daBEARS

 That's funny     Alot of hockey left.   Tampa gonna have to work for this.   

LOL MJR...getting better here in the dentist chair...the pain has subsided, but you're right...TB's gonna have to work and work some more because the Avs aren't backing off the gas pedal as far as I can see.  Vasilevskiy is the difference it seems with quite a few high danger saves.  When he let Landeskog's second PPG go over his blocker/shoulder I started to squirm.  What a great effort and goal by Paul after coming back in from that injury!  Didn't see Maroon scoring in my dream lol, but I guess the big rig has some diesel left in the tank.  Avs' D has been a lot softer tonight.

Cheers  

Hey Nedtan,

Gotta stop by...keep it going lol.  Was gonna recap the lockdown D the Avs played in games 1 and 2...39 shots total and 3 goals total by the Lightning.  Heck with that, though...the kick in the pants they got in Game 3 was probably the best thing for their team ego.  Just my opinion...they came into Tampa Bay thinking this was gonna be a repeat of the Edmonton wild west show, but the Big Cat in the TB goal had something to say about that.  Good for him...good for the Bolts.

Time for the Avs to re-focus on their back check, especially, and their defense inside the dots.  I think the Bolts scored at least 4 (maybe 5) goals from the low slot and inside the face-off dots; wide open ice for TB to operate in.  When Paddy Maroon can cruise in untouched and flip the puck up Kuemper's blocker and shoulder - and then tip toe across the front of the blue ice like Wayne Gretzky - wow - kudos to him...and it's no wonder Bednar had seen enough and pulled Kuemper.  Colorado will remember how they won the first two games and forget about visions of target practice at the Bolts end of the ice.  If they hold TB to 25 SOG, crowd their man, and back check the heck outta the Bolts then that's more than half the battle.  This isn't Edmonton.  The Blues made it rough for a while (Binnington) but the Avs took both Games 3 and 4 in St Louis allowing just 3 and 2 goals (20 SOG by StL game 4).  They'll remember those games if they're half as smart as they seem to be.

No doubt they want the Cup real bad after 21 years in the wilderness.  Thinking MacKinnon gets the first goal and the Avs get a 2-goal win.  COL ML -108

Cheers  

@DB51daBEARS

 Shit bro stop by whenever  this is too funny, Cmon bears 4-0 in my thread let’s do it. Don’t steal all my JuJu now tho it’s a partnership here 

Hey Nedtan,

Laughing out loud...no way would I ever try to steal yours or anybody's JuJu  

Heading for the dentist chair...er, recliner...now.  Off the computer til the break.

Cheers, buddy...BOL of course  

Let’s lock up this massive + MONEY play today boys.

What’s in store for today DaBears 

Hey Nedtan...what's up buddy.

Just got home; out most of the afternoon.  You calling the meeting to order...cool.

I'm thinking the Avs get it done tonight.  I guess both sides are gonna leave it all out there, but the cardio's gonna make a difference.

Thinking MacKinnon gets another.  His Game 4's goal was a cheapie (for him) lol...off his skate...but he'll take that all day every day.

Thinking he wants to see the net ripple, but he's a team guy first, and he has nothing to prove to anyone.  4-2 Avs...maybe 5-2?

Cheers, buddy...all the best