The most Russian club in the NHL finished the restriction for the cup. The favorite goes further – Hockey News
“St. Louis” effects in the series “Colorado”.
NHL. Playoffs. Second round. Sixth match
“St. Louis” – “Colorado” – 2: 3 (1:0, 1:1, 0:2)
Goals: Folk – 1 (Thomas, Mikkola), 19:00 – 1:0. Komfer – 1 (Manson, Burakovski), 25:19 – 1:1. Kairu – 7 (Shenn), 29:34 – 2:1. Komfer – 2 (bol., Byram, Teyvz), 50:18 – 2:2. Helm – 1 (O’Connor, E. Johnson), 59:54 – 2:3.
Goalkeepers: Husso – Kemper.
Fine: 4 – 4.
Throws: 20 (7+7+6) – 39 (13+13+13).
Our: Barbashev (10.58/0/0), Buchnevich (18.25/1/0), Tarasenko (14.44/2/+1), Toropchenko (12.18/1/0) – Nichushkin (03/20/0).
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Series score: 2-4.
“Avelanche” mediocrely gave the fifth game, leading in the score 3:0 and 4:3, and gave “St. Louis” a chance to drag out the series. “Blues” for a heroic comeback deserve. In a game with a lot going wrong and Colorado having Nathan McKinnon woken up, the Musicians mobilized at the right moment and took advantage of the Lavigne’s wobbly defense. As the Avalanche are good in attack, they are unstable in defense. Colorado was being punished for premature complacency. “St. Louis”, with the support of the Russians – Tarasenko, Buchnevich, Toropchenko and Barbashev – saved and returned the series to Missouri. As it turned out, only to close the season at home.
From the first minute of the sixth game, Colorado looks like familiar hockey. The guests rushed forward like a hurricane. By the middle of the segment, they were throwing three times, but Wille Husso, who replaced Binnington’s injury, rescued his partners. Only in the majority, “St. Louis” moved the game to the gates of others and loaded Darcy Kemper. On the wave of unrealized removal of the owners of the jewels, which cause lower-level attacks, and scored first. “Colorado” owned the initiative, but the “Musicians” went on a break, leading in the account. Justin Faulk got a lineout and kicked the puck past the keeper.
Three victories of “Colorado” in the series turned out to be strong-willed. The first goal factor, as well as the advantage during the match, was not key in the fight of some of the best regular attacks. Everyone is used to enjoying the Avalanche, but the Blues scored one more goal in a smooth championship. You shouldn’t forget about it. After the break, the disposition on the ice has not changed. Avalanches more often and more consciously controlled the puck, brought it to the goal, tested different positions. Shooting, possession—the stats spoke for Colorado. Washer Jay T Comfer – logical withdrawal of segments. But the pragmatic St. Louis spread its wings and quickly scored a second goal.
Toward the end of the second period, the Blues fired up, turned off the car mode from the 2019 playoffs, and created moment after moment at the Colorado goal. After Toropchenko’s shot, the Avalanche secured the post, and then Kemper coped with a dangerous finishing move on the Russian. Colossal danger radiated from Kairu, who missed a one-on-one exit and the surest chance from a dime (a super save was made by Josh Manson). Jordan realized only one moment after the blunder of defender Jack Johnson, at least after forty minutes of the game he claimed that not a hat-trick, then at least a double. For the chances spent, the Musicians paid the price in the third period.
“Avelanche” attacked sweepingly, and “St. Louis” patiently defended, after which it was felt and used no less tangible raids on other people’s gates. The Blues defenders helped the goalkeeper, and Ville Husso remembered that he regularly carried out a stable work of the Canadian Binnington. Finn, of course, was worried: the experiment beat the puck in front of him, rushed around the goalkeeper, but suggested a team in the game. When the Landeskog trio went out on the ice for the majority, it became especially hot on the Blues penny. “Colorado” adhered to a banal tactic: if you can’t score thanks to a combination, then you need to score a puck from a penny. At the end of the majority, holding back the pressure of the Lavin special brigade, the hosts ran into a counterattack. Saving duplicate issued Komfer, hitting the near corner of the gate Husso.
The match was nearing overtime. The teams exchanged attacks, but everything went to the point that Colorado and St. Louis did not have enough time to determine the winner. Darren Helm, who remained silent throughout the playoffs, was opposed to this. “Avalanches” transferred the opponent twice (39-20). The 39th throw was the turning point for the series. Helm blew up the Colorado bench six seconds before the siren and threw St. Louis players and fans into despair. Finishing the season is a shame, but missing the winning goal moments before the break in the near tragedy of what happened.
“St. Louis” took a timeout and in the remaining seconds was able to throw on goal. Kemper did not repeat the mistakes of Mike Smith from Edmonton and did not allow the puck admitted from the middle zone. The Blues deserved respect for their character and a miracle comeback in the last match, but the Avalanche won. The old principle worked: quantity sooner or later develops into quality. Stop the main favorite without Binnington “St. Louis” could not. Colorado go through to the next round, where they will play with another ambassador of attacking hockey – Edmonton. McKinnon vs. McDavid – the duel of two Canadian virtuosos in itself promises incredible dramaturgy, not to mention the entire series.