WCQF: Winnipeg Jets Vs. Colorado Avalanche (COL lead 3-1)

[Spilot23]

I think they had something right with Darcy Kuemper. Not spectacular (although he kind of had to be in Arizona), but at the very least, solid. It won them a cup too.

I think our GM thought after winning the cup that goalies aren't that important. This year many say Avs went all in. That's even our motto this year from what I've seen. Damn it's hilarious.

 

[tucker3434]

I think our GM thought after winning the cup that goalies aren't that important. This year many say Avs went all in. That's even our motto this year from what I've seen. Damn it's hilarious.

Back when we thought .900 was bad…. The good ole days.

 

[Pongs21]

I thought Mack and Makar were insane last night. They definitely brought their game. Nichushkin made his presence known and that first goal was an absolute snipe. If they can sustain their level of play and Rantanen decides to join them, it's going to be tough sledding for the Jets if the offense dries up.
Winnipeg looked way more concerned about hitting everything to start the game and then played right into Colorado's game plan and except for a few shifts of controlling the play in the offensive zone, never really imposed their game or played their system. We can't be playing wide open and trading chances like that with the Avs if we want to win. I expect a completely different game 2 from both teams. What a game though!

 

[cneely]

Horrific game by the Jets. Some really uncharacteristic errors like the Samberg give away. And yet they still managed to pull it out.

I expect they will tighten up a little and while the Avs are a great offensive team, I don't see them putting up 6 every game.

I'm struggling with some of Bowness' lineup decisions. Gustaffson over Perfetti? Stanley over... well, to be honest, anyone.

 

[TGWL]

I think there's a pretty big gap here between not having elite goaltending and not having any goaltending. I don't think you need elite goaltending to go on a big cup run. But you do need consistent, competent goaltending. 1 out of 3 shots going in ain't that.

 

[Hunter368]

Both teams had some positives and negatives from game one to be concerned about and proud of. Lets see which team can correct its mistakes for game 2.

I've said from the start this one is going 6-7 games, the two teams are built very differently which makes this series so fun to watch.

 

[Adam da bomb]

It was a treat and a horror watching MacKinnon play last night. The man was so dominant. Makar was mostly silent till he started racking up points in the third.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Georgiev has given up a goal on every 3.45 shots against the Jets this season. That is all. Carry on.

 

[StumpyTown]

MacK and Makar played to expectation for those two. They were great.

The question I have is how tired does MacK get playing 25+ minutes a game. Forwards burn out playing those kind of minutes game after game in the playoffs. Defensemen tend to be able to log a few more minutes effectively so I don't expect any drop off from Makar.

The Jets have to impose their game on the Avs to win this series, much like the games during the season went. If the Avs play every game like the first one, they will win more often than not if Helle isn't Vezinabuyck.

 

[winnipegger]

Mackinnon was the best player on the ice last night.

 

[CDN24]

If your gonna have a Russian goalie as your starter, don’t dip into the bargain bin ie.samsonov, georgiev

Channeling their inner Bryzgalov. Probably scared of bears. Georgiev thought all that white in the stands was polar bears

 

[Caps8112]

if Georgiev is so bad why not pull a kid up from the minors. its a punt either way but at least the jets havent seen the prospects before. Based off posts in the thread Georgiev is the same as playing without a goalie. Also cant be a confidence booster for any avs goalie prospects if they are willing to play the guy who sucks.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Mackinnon was the best player on the ice last night.

Doesn’t matter, if this is his goalie:

 

[Flair Hay]

It was a treat and a horror watching MacKinnon play last night. The man was so dominant. Makar was mostly silent till he started racking up points in the third.

Truly jaw dropping how great he is. And Makar too.

 

[AvStock]

You can get by and win with journeymen. But those goalies can also lose you a series you should’ve won.

And how many times has a goalie stolen a series? Happens all the time. Goaltending doesn’t matter - until you don’t have it.

Avalanche GM made a huge mistake getting rid of Darcy Kuemper

 

[AvStock]

Yes. He should've made saves. If he manages a .800 sv percentage the Avs win that game easily. 3 goals on 8 shots and subsequently, 7 goals on 23 shots is absurd for playoff hockey. It's not like this is one game where he shit the bed, but 4+ goals a game has been his mantra for a long time. At some point you've got to make the tough saves and not the easy ones like you seem to be pointing out here. When your team is putting up 6-spots and 50 shots a game, you need to make that one save that gives them a chance and the edge in a game.

I was hard on my guys in front of Igor as well when he was going through a bad goalie slump, but it wasn't like we were putting up 4, 5, 6 goals a game when Igor was playing like shit.

Geo has let in the most goals this season by a margin of 10 goals more than the rest of the league and still managed to eek out 38 wins with a sub .900 sv percentage. The team can score despite him, but it won't work in the playoffs.

You guys warned us too

 

[Flair Hay]

View attachment 857255

Not going to lie, I expected much more of a fight from Winnipeg in game one in their own barn. They're lucky as f*** Georgiev was on the other side of the ice. Hellebuyck letting in six in a night you were supposed to have all the momentum should be terrifying.

As for the Avs, this is 100% on cMac. He knew at the deadline Georgiev was shit and did nothing about it. This guy has been one of the worst GMs in the league since they won the cup.

Yeah this lines up with how the game felt.

Jets seem to be much more uptight in the white out, it's probably been a hindrance over the last 5 years or so.

Avs were flying 80% of the game and the Jets were not sharp. Creating tons of offense and it seemed like every small lapse ended up in their net.

Expecting next game to be a lot tighter from both teams.

 

[Skidooboy]

more tal

Mackinnon was the best player on the ice last night.

I'd Say Lowry.
Honestly.
He was a beast. nobody even mentions his name... and He was A BEAST

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Well… that game was… something

 

[Royale With Cheese]

MacKinnon and McDavid are the scariest players to face IMO. And last night, he was doing his thing.

The Jets last night were not good at all (also IMO) defensively, it was so uncharacteristic of their play this year generally. This is not a style they will win the series with. They need to get their shit together defensively and also stay out of the penalty box because the PK is awful.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Avalanche GM made a huge mistake getting rid of Darcy Kuemper

Maybe they can win regardless. Great club. But to lose because you cheaped out on a goalie is brutal.

 

[Adam da bomb]

Truly jaw dropping how great he is. And Makar too.

I thought Makar was invisible for 52 minutes and only did anything the final 8.

 

[Avsfan1921]

After watching Bednar's press conference last night, I wouldn't be shocked if Georgiev was back in net for Game 2. My condolences Avs fans.

I wouldn’t put a whole lot of stalk into that conference. He knows he’s dealing with a goalie having a mental breakdown and he’s not one to call players out. He very well could go with George again but I’d absolutely not base the assumption on what he says in a presser.

Yeah this lines up with how the game felt.

Jets seem to be much more uptight in the white out, it's probably been a hindrance over the last 5 years or so.

Avs were flying 80% of the game and the Jets were not sharp. Creating tons of offense and it seemed like every small lapse ended up in their net.

Expecting next game to be a lot tighter from both teams.

Honestly, most Avs fans would take that defensive effort every game if they can push like that offensively. They have the horses that are perfectly suited to that style but haven’t been super consistent this year. The game they played defensively last night only becomes an issue if they can’t push the pace offensively.

 

[GOilers88]

From the Jets perspective, when you can pull out a win where you were heavily outplayed, and your all world goalie was not even close to his best, it has to ring positive more than negative.

Colorado is ballin' and will always be a tough out, but if Hellebuyck dials it in, look the f*** out.

 

[Chileiceman]

Darcy Kuemper lost his starting gig to Charlie Lindgren in Washington. I don't fault Avs management for passing on him. Georgie was a slightly below average to average goalie (which is all the Avs need) until this last month in which he's turned into a block of swiss cheese.

Avs should have gone dumpster diving at the deadline for a backup goalie. Kahkonen, Blackwood, Reimer, Merzlikins, Matt Murray... really anyone would have been better at this point that Georgiev.