Bottom-six centers J.T. Compher and Darren Helm combined for all three goals in Colorado’s elimination of St. Louis, proving the Avs can win when their stars aren’t shining. Top-six winger Mikko Rantanen, second-line center Nazem Kadri and winger Gabe Landeskog combined for 13 shots but didn’t produce a point Friday night. Having the depth Colorado has displayed thus far during the postseason is a recipe for success in a seven-game series given that the top lines can’t always deliver.
This is an emotional time,” Bednar explained with his familiar, Saskatchewan calm Friday after Darren Helm’s rocket cinched a Game 6 victory and made him the first Avs coach to lead his team to the conference finals in 20 years. Our team hasn’t been under that kind of stress a lot during the season. Without Bednar, they likely crumble.
Colorado lost to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season. Colorado general manager Joe Sakic was the captain of that Stanley Cup-winning team. It took a former Red Wing to help push Colorado into the semifinal.
No | Player | Pos |
---|---|---|
16 | RW | |
95 | LW | |
4 | D | |
11 | LW | |
37 | C | |
39 | G | |
49 | D | |
43 | C | |
6 | D | |
3 | D | |
91 | C | |
35 | G | |
92 | LW | |
62 | RW | |
56 | D | |
29 | C | |
8 | D | |
42 | D | |
28 | D | |
18 | LW | |
13 | LW | |
25 | RW | |
96 | RW | |
78 | C | |
7 | D |