GDT: WCQF: Game 5 - Colorado Avalanche @ Dallas Stars | 7:30 MT

[forsbergavs32]

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - Nelson - Nichushkin
Drouin - Coyle - Kiviranta
Kelly - Drury - O'Connor

Toews - Makar
Lindgren - Manson
Girard - Malinkski

Blackwood



Granlund - Hintz - Rantanen
Marchment - Duchene - Seguin
Benn - Johnston - Dadonov
Steel - Bourque - Blackwell

Harley - Lyubushkin
Lindell - Ceci
Bichsel - Petrovic

Oettinger

GDT Music:

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[RoyIsALegend]

Series defining game.

Yes, game 4 was crucial to not go down 3-1, but that's over with. The winner of game 5 in a series tied 2-2 has won the series almost 80% of the time in the 550 series in NHL history that have been tied 2-2.

We HAVE to come out strong. Start the game like we played game 4 and the Stars will immediately begin doubting whether they can actually slow down the Avalanche wagon. Get the first goal, play at OUR tempo which nobody else can play at. Put them on the backfoot.

I believe.

Let's f***ing go Avalanche.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

This is it boys. Three game series. Now the Avs have found their feet and their game we need to go for the jugular tonight and end it on home ice on Thursday. Let's f***ing do this. Makar gets a goal tonight. He was buzzing all game on Saturday. Tonight is his night.

Be on the lookout for marchment though. Dude was angry last game and is likely to try something dumb.

 

[Murzu]

We're going to win this one. I believe, you should too.

2-4 Avs.

 

[The Pwnerer]

Time to continuing writing your legacy and step up when times are tough. I'm looking at Mackinnon and Makar who need to lead us tonight.

 

[AVSfan2daMAX]

Dallas also had a 2-1 lead on the Oilers last year in the Western Conference Finals before losing 3 straight. You have to wonder if they don't have their own demons.

Avs just have to play smart and simple like they did in game 4. Not only it minimizes turnovers, but puts pressure on the Stars lackluster defenseman to skate and/or move the puck, which most cannot do.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Dallas also had a 2-1 lead on the Oilers last year in the Western Conference Finals before losing 3 straight. You have to wonder if they don't have their own demons.

Avs just have to play smart and simple like they did in game 3. Not only it minimizes turnovers, but puts pressure on the Stars lackluster defenseman to skate and/or move the puck, which most cannot do.

I hope you mean game 4!

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Please get it done

 

[flyfysher]

Avs need to stomp the Stars tonight. Play a full 60 and put Marchment down if he tries the goonery again.

 

[missionAvs]

This is the series right here IMO. Winner of game 5 when tied ends up winning 78% of the time every time. Avs have to establish their game early and play the full 60. They can do this. Dallas 5-2 final.

 

[Ararana]

Can't wait to see see players falling all over the shit ice tonight.

 

[missionAvs]

Any news on Heiskanen?

 

[Ararana]

Any news on Heiskanen?

Yesterday:

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Any news on Heiskanen?

Last news was that he joined their team for morning skate prior to Game 4, but still hadn't taken any contact. I'll be surprised if he plays tonight, but not shocked.

 

[The Moops]

Epic GDT

 

[flyfysher]

Last news was that he joined their team for morning skate prior to Game 4, but still hadn't taken any contact. I'll be surprised if he plays tonight, but not shocked.

If Heiskanen does come back then he likely won’t be 100% and should be subjected to repeated hits to test out his ability to take contact. Nothing personal against Miro. It’s just PO hockey.

 

[MacKaRtin]

Wondering if this is the game that Rantanen first establishes his reputation as an Avs killer...

 

[The Shermanator]

Still so many players on both sides that haven't really factored in yet in the series. Gotta think they do before the end. Makes it hard to predict.

 

[dahrougem2]

Getting the lead is imperative, and expanding on it even more imperative.

That forces the Stars big, lumbering d-men to try making plays and joining the rush and they're simply incapable unless Thomas Harley is on the ice.

Soft dumps into the Stars zone, speed on the forecheck, absolute puck hounding and get pucks to the net.

Shoot at will and the Stars don't know how to defend, they start running around.

Come on, Cale. Big game out of you tonight.

And please stay out of the f***ing box. This might be the only time DeBoer EVER shuts his mouth about the officiating because he actually wants PPs in this series - his team can't score at 5v5.

 

[dahrougem2]

Through the playoffs thus far per-60 ranks at 5v5:

Corsi
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 15th

Scoring Chances For
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 10th

Scoring Chances Against
Colorado: 7th
Dallas: 15th

High Danger Chances For
Colorado: 4th
Dallas: 9th

High Danger Chances Against
Colorado: 8th
Dallas: 13th

xGF
Colorado: 6th
Dallas: 8th

xGA
Colorado: 9th
Dallas: 12th

This is our series to lose if we play the right way.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Through the playoffs thus far per-60 ranks at 5v5:

Corsi
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 15th

Scoring Chances For
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 10th

Scoring Chances Against
Colorado: 7th
Dallas: 15th

High Danger Chances For
Colorado: 4th
Dallas: 9th

High Danger Chances Against
Colorado: 8th
Dallas: 13th

xGF
Colorado: 6th
Dallas: 8th

xGA
Colorado: 9th
Dallas: 12th

This is our series to lose if we play the right way.

Lehkonen leads the entire NHL playoffs in individual high danger chances for at 5v5. He has 9. Nobody else has more than 8.

Lehkonen has 12 shots with 9 of them being iHDCF. He has 1 goal. That's crazy.

In comparison, MacKinnon has 13 shots with only 1 being iHDCF at 5v5. He's shooting from the perimeter and not getting to the interior enough.

Lehkonen is getting tons of chances, just not scoring them. 1 goal scored out of 9 iHDCF opportunities at 5v5 is insane.

 

[dahrougem2]

Through the playoffs thus far per-60 ranks at 5v5:

Corsi
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 15th

Scoring Chances For
Colorado: 2nd
Dallas: 10th

Scoring Chances Against
Colorado: 7th
Dallas: 15th

High Danger Chances For
Colorado: 4th
Dallas: 9th

High Danger Chances Against
Colorado: 8th
Dallas: 13th

xGF
Colorado: 6th
Dallas: 8th

xGA
Colorado: 9th
Dallas: 12th

This is our series to lose if we play the right way.

Off topic but indicative of why nobody believes in the Leafs:

They are BY FAR the lowest high danger chance generating team these playoffs, a full 3 chances behind the next lowest team per-60. They are averaging 5/game per-60 at 5v5.

If PPs disappear as they tend to, that team cannot score.

 

[dahrougem2]

Lehkonen leads the entire NHL playoffs in individual high danger chances for at 5v5. He has 9. Nobody else has more than 8.

Lehkonen has 12 shots with 9 of them being iHDCF. He has 1 goal. That's crazy.

In comparison, MacKinnon has 13 shots with only 1 being iHDCF at 5v5. He's shooting from the perimeter and not getting to the interior enough.

Lehkonen is getting tons of chances, just not scoring them. 1 goal scored out of 9 iHDCF opportunities at 5v5 is insane.

It's why I'm not worried about the guy. I think eventually those pucks are going to start going in for him. We got spoiled earlier when everything was going in for Lehkonen and he was on a 45 goal pace. It hasn't been happening for him for a couple of months now.

If he snaps out of his funk, that top line ends up looking a lot better results wise 5v5.

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

Stars will adjust so our boys need to keep forechecking and forcing their D to make forced plays . Go Avs .

 

[AllAboutAvs]

The Avs need to be on Harley like glue. Make him work hard and hit him any chance you get. Don't give him any space.