The Colorado Avalanche have been dominant in the first round of the playoffs, winning four consecutive series, and only losing two games in four years. However, their winning streak was halted by the Seattle Kraken, who beat them in Game 1 and went on to win Game 4 in overtime, tying the series at 2-2. The Kraken’s victory came at a cost, however, as their leading scorer Jared McCann was injured by a late hit from Cale Makar, resulting in Makar’s suspension for Game 5.
The Challenge for the Avalanche
Makar’s suspension leaves the Avalanche without their top-pairing defenseman, who played a critical role in every sequence, from 5-on-5 to the first-team power play, as well as being trusted as a penalty killer. The Avalanche will need to find a replacement for Makar for Game 5, and coach Jared Bednar may opt to use either Samuel Girard or Devon Toews, who have played together for nearly 85 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this season.
In terms of the power play, Bednar may choose to replace Makar with either Byram or Toews on the first unit, leaving him seeking a fill-in for the second unit. The Avalanche will also need to find a sixth defenseman, with veteran Jack Johnson a possible option.
The Avalanche’s situation is further complicated by their need for more contributions from different portions of the lineup. Ten of their 12 goals scored through Game 4 have come from their top two lines, with the remaining goals coming from Toews and Makar. The Avalanche will need to find ways to score dirty goals and get their depth players to contribute more offensively.
The Challenge for the Kraken
The Kraken have relied on their depth throughout the regular season and the playoffs. Of their 12 goals, only two have come from their top line, while their second defensive pairing of Will Borgen and Jamie Oleksiak have combined to score two goals. Ryan Donato replaced the injured Jared McCann on the top line in Game 4, and logged more than nine minutes in 5-on-5 ice time with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle, finishing with five shots.
The Kraken’s forecheck has been unforgivingly effective, pressuring the puck and forcing turnovers. In Game 4, they limited the Avalanche to just 16 shots in 5-on-5 play, which was the fewest in the series and tied for the third fewest in a game this season. The Avalanche will need to work hard to get pucks first, make sure their next play is not a soft play, and get pucks above the Kraken’s forecheck to create any sort of rush attack.
In conclusion, the Avalanche face the challenge of finding a replacement for Makar, getting their depth players to contribute more offensively, and breaking through the Kraken’s aggressive forecheck. The Kraken need to find a way to win in Denver without their leading scorer, and maintain their effective forecheck to limit the Avalanche’s scoring chances.
Leave a Reply