Avalanche May Have Unlocked Another Variable for Stanley Cup Success

Some expected the current series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild to be a war, putting the winner in the driver’s seat to the Stanley Cup. And while there have been battles, the Avalanche emerged victorious in Game 4 to put the Wild on the brink of elimination.

The Avalanche have a lot going for them, but another element to their game came to the forefront in the latest win. A team known for its tremendous skill and tenacious forecheck, the Avalanche have given their game yet another dimension.

Physicality Was Critical in Game 4 Win

Though there were maybe a few overzealous points, the Avalanche asserted their physical dominance in the Game 4 win. Their 32-hit performance showed that they can get down and dirty when it matters most, and the Wild didn’t seem to have an answer for it.

When asked about the game, head coach Jared Bednar had this to say: “I think there’s two things. One, it’s what the game requires this time of year, right? The biggest change from regular-season hockey and playoff hockey is the buy-in and the commitment to defend from every team,” Bednar said. “And the second thing is intensity and physicality. It’s going to go off. There’s less room, there’s less space. If you want to check the puck back, you’ve got to be physical. If you want to hang onto the puck, you’ve got to be more physical.”

Josh Manson has been one of the more visible leaders to this movement. But Bednar has preached nuance to the team’s physicality, limiting the Wild’s ability to control puck possession. Unbridled aggression would only stand to cause issues, but the Avalanche have largely had control while ratcheting up the physicality. It has proven to be an effective recipe to playoff success.

The Avalanche Still Haven’t Had an A+ Game

It could be argued that the Avalanche haven’t played their very best game yet. They’ve had high-scoring affairs, like the incredible 9-6 offensive explosion in Game 1. They’ve ratcheted their defensive efforts up, smothering the Los Angeles Kings throughout the first-round sweep.

That said, the Avalanche are still looking for more from key contributors. Selke Trophy finalist Brock Nelson has just two goals and three points through eight games. Cale Makar has slowed down a bit since a strong first round. Ross Colton has just one goal so far.

The Avalanche are 7-1 in these playoffs so far, the lone blemish coming in Game 3 of this series. If the Avalanche are playing this well and still have so much room for improvement, just imagine how scary they will be.

Lineup Changes Proved Effective

In the end, even the best teams need to shake things up sometimes. Swapping out the goaltenders and going with MacKenzie Blackwood proved effective. Sam Malinski missed Game 4 but it would be far more ideal to have him back.

Then again, that’s one of the chief things that makes the Avalanche so deadly. They can roll guy after guy after guy, all capable of getting the job done. It’s the hallmark of a championship team and the Avalanche have it in spades.