Every single post-season, the hockey club that claims the Stanley Cup will face adversity at some point during their championship journey. It could be an injury, a heart-breaking overtime game that didn’t go your way, or just bad performances from star players over an extended time or even an entire series. Championship-caliber teams face these challenges head-on without blinking.
That is the task at hand facing Dallas in Game Two while being one that Colorado already conquered on Tuesday.
While the adversity will be ever-present in the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche did erase a 3-goal deficit and claim home-ice advantage in the matchup with four unanswered goals in that 4-3 overtime win. I would say that is staring in the face of adversity and not blinking, wouldn’t you?
Tonight is the Dallas Stars’ chance to respond to that disappointing overtime finish from Tuesday night and put it in the review mirror. Meanwhile, Colorado will attempt to bury the Stars in a 2-0 series hole heading back to Denver.
Slowing Down Cale Makar
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After Game One, Cale Makar has registered a point in six consecutive playoff games. He added 3 points to his career totals on Tuesday. Now, the Dallas Stars must figure out a way to contain him starting in Game Two. Winnipeg failed in Round 1, meanwhile, the entire league has struggled to do the same over his six playoff appearances in Denver.
The Avalanche defenseman entered the series with 71 points in 65 career playoff games. He sports a clean +30 plus/minus. With Makar on the ice, the Colorado Avalanche are an offensive force to be reckoned with. His 3 points on Tuesday were just more of the same for the Calgary-born blueliner.
So, how DO you just down the Avalanche’s all-star defenseman? While not easy given the offensive firepower at Colorado’s disposal, the Stars must find a way to take away his time and space. His second-period goal was a clean shot through a screen. The tying mark in the 3rd was a clean shot blocked at the top of the crease and landed in front of Nathan MacKinnon. He promptly found the back of the net as the #29 usually does with an empty net in front of him.
Simply put, the Stars need to push the defensive forwards higher when in the defensive zone to take away that time and space from Makar in Game Two. Colorado’s counter is to use the extra attention on Cale Makar to slip into the growing gap between forwards and blueliners by using the speed of their forwards. The Avalanche counter-attack earned them the win earlier this week, but they likely shouldn’t rely on that part of their game to escape with a win in Game Two.
More of the Same in Game Two
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Despite allowing four unanswered goals and dropping the contest in overtime, Peter DeBoer’s squad still had an effort to build upon the loss. The Stars battled for 30 grueling minutes after conceding the tying goal mere seconds into the 3rd period. Dallas controlled a good bit of pay in the extra session, only to be denied by the padding wrapped around the legs of the Colorado goalie, Alexandar Georgiev.
Speed kills in the NHL Playoffs, especially in an overtime period. Colorado made a good clear from behind the net, Miles Wood caught up to the puck, beat the back-skating defenseman, and stickhandled around the outstretched pad of goalie Jake Oettinger to place the puck behind him and across the goalie line. “Goodnight Moon” on Game One. It is a tale as old as time in the post-season.
Ideally, both teams will be looking to pick up from where they left things in Game Two. Colorado and Dallas were exchanging chances in the bonus hockey period before Wood’s ended the playoff party too early according to the late-night crowd in Big D.
Is Dallas at a Disadvantage
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The term “must-win” is kicked around like a hacky-sack in American postseason settings. While the Dallas Stars do not want to fall into a 0-2 series deficit, Game Two on Thursday night is NOT a must-win. It is far from a must-win. Dare I say Dallas might even be comfortable in this position? How can that be possible? I am glad you asked, reader.
This is the fourth situation where the Stars trail as a series 0-1 AT HOME over the last three post-seasons just like they are heading into Game Two. They dropped the first two games at home to Las Vegas in Round 1 already this season, Dallas recovered adequately and advanced. Last season, they stumbled in their opening games against Minnesota and Seattle before ultimately ending up on the smiling end of the playoff handshake tradition.
Colorado will be looking to repeat the nightmare that Vegas caused the Stars a little over a week ago minus that little part about the ending by claiming Game Two tonight. Except this time, the Avalanche will be dreaming of flashing their pearly whites toward the Stars during the bro hug exchange at the end of the series.
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With a varied professional background that includes an M.B.A. in Sports Management from Tiffin University, Chris can speak with authority on the subject matters that he covers. Additional insightful sports articles can be located here.
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