• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Finally Find the Net in Crucial Game 5 Win

By Julian Mongillo September 1st, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Colorado Avalanche faced their first elimination game of the 2020 Playoffs and battled hard enough to play another day. The Avs scored five unanswered first-period goals to take down the Dallas Stars 6-3 in Game 5 to bring the series to 3-2.

With injuries beginning to mount, poor defensive zone play, and a lack of scoring, the Avalanche received contributions from 11 of 18 players who recorded at least a point in the game.

Related: Flames’ Playoff Letdown Could Lead to Offseason Moves

Michael Hutchinson got the nod in net and shut the door on the Stars to earn his first career playoff victory. The Avs played desperate hockey and did not look like they were ready to leave the NHL bubble.

Lineup Changes

With injuries still a factor in lineup decisions, some players were thrust into the heat of the battle in a do-or-die game.

  • Connor Timmins made his NHL playoff debut replacing Kevin Connauton.
  • Hutchinson got the start in goal as Pavel Francouz was ruled unfit to play.
  • Joonas Donskoi missed his third straight game with Logan O’ Conner remaining in his place.
  • Erik Johnson, Matt Calvert, and Philipp Grubauer all remained unfit to play

Game 5 Takeaways

Goals Galore

One of the reasons the Avalanche have struggled in this series is the Stars’ ability to shut down the Avs’ speed in the neutral zone, and limiting the number of offensive chances. Fortunately, Colorado had no trouble finding the back of the net in this game firing four goals passed Ben Bishop in his return to the lineup before he was replaced by Anton Khudobin.

It took the Avalanche 18:26 to get their first shot yesterday, and it took them 2:36 to score 4 goals today. Inspirational self improvement

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) September 1, 2020

The Avalanche knew how important it was to have a good start to the game and they executed that game plan from the get-go. Andre Burakovsky led the way offensively posting two goals and an assist, while Nathan MacKinnon kept his 13-game playoff point streak alive with a goal and an assist.

Related: Heiskanen, Hughes & Makar Exemplify New Player-Development Models

The fourth line got the first goal of the game at 4:37 in the first period before the big boys followed suit. The Avalanche peppered the Stars with shots and flexed the offensive firepower with a five-goal first period.

Hutch Comes Up Clutch

Hutchinson was acquired by the Avs via the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline for depth, in the unlikely scenario that one of the strong 1A and 1B goalie combo of Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz would get injured. With Grubauer already on the shelf after suffering an apparent groin injury earlier in the postseason and Francouz ruled unfit to play before Game 5, that scenario manifested itself.

Michael Hutchinson Toronto Maple Leafs
Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

The Avs made it easy on Hutchinson in the first period, limiting the Stars to a mere five shots and giving him a five-goal cushion. The Stars made a push in the second before pouring on 18 shots in the third, but Hutchinso shut the door.

“He didn’t get a lot of work early, but certainly did as the game went on, Dallas made a push, we took a bunch of penalties again (4-for-6 on the penalty kill). We were confident going in, if we played the way we could play, ‘Hutch’ could have a night for us, and he did. I couldn’t be more happy for the guy.”

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar

Hutchinson stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced in the victory. With Francouz listed as day-to-day, it’s possible the Avs will have to go back to Hutchinson for Game 6 in another win-or-go-home game.

Areas to Improve

Game by Game

It’s important the Avalanche don’t get too far ahead of themselves after this victory. There are still questions about the lineup, especially in goal, and the team will need to lock down defensively and limit the Stars’ scoring chances if they want to even this series.

If Bishop gets the start in the next game, it’s unlikely he will be as bad as he was in Game 5. Colorado will need to continue to get lots of pucks to the net and keep their foot on the gas offensively to be able to beat the Stars’ top goaltender.

Where is the Potent Power Play?

The Avalanche have been terrible with the man advantage in this series and that trend continued in Game 5. Tempers were flaring in the second period with the Stars visibly frustrated which led to some undisciplined penalties. Unfortunately, the Avs did not score on any of their six power-play opportunities in the game.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon
The Avalanche have gone 3 for 23 on the power play through five games in this series. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

It’s important that the Avs make the Stars pay for their mistakes, especially in a game where so little separates a win from a loss, advancing or being eliminated. The Avalanche need to find the same power play success they had in Round 1 and take advantage of the opportunities they get in Game 6 to force Game 7.

Game 6

Game 6 is on Wednesday at 8 pm ET. If the Avalanche can continue their strong play, increase their power play production and continue to get good goaltending from whoever mans the crease, they have a good chance of coming away victorious.

Related: How to Talk Like a Hockey Player

There has yet to be a Game 7 in these playoffs and the Avalanche will need to dig deep to become the first team to force one this postseason and keep their Stanley Cup aspirations alive.


Sign up for our regular 'Avs Newsletter' for all the latest.

  • Tags
  • 2020 NHL Playoffs
  • Michael Hutchinson
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 6:15 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Find Success Against Red Wings

Jan 24th 6:10 PM
Column

Canadiens’ News & Rumours: Hot Start, Armia, Mete & More

Jan 24th 6:00 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Road Trip, Lineups, Stützle & More

Jan 24th 5:50 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ Notebook: NHL Players to Watch & Overseas Ice

Jan 24th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

3 Takeaways From Canadiens’ 5-2 Win Over Canucks

Jan 24th 3:15 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Michigan, Gushchin & Gordin

Jan 24th 3:05 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Chytil, Dubois Traded, Lafreniere & More

Jan 24th 2:55 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Getting the Best of Curtis Lazar

Jan 24th 2:05 PM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Are in Good Hands With Jack Hughes

Jan 24th 1:35 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks Seeing Offense From Erik Karlsson But Defense Is Lacking

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information