Colorado Avalanche score five goals in the first period to win Game 5

The Colorado Avalanche needed a big effort in Game 5 in order to extend the series against the Dallas Stars, and they did not disappoint.

Game 5 was a make or break game for the Colorado Avalanche, as they trailed in the series 3-1. Looking for a victory, Colorado started goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who replaced Pavel Francouz midway through Game 4, because Francouz was unfit to play in this contest.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars turned to Ben Bishop in goal for the first time in this series. Bishop had been deemed unfit to play, so Anton Khudobin had taken his place between the pipes. Khudobin played very well, while Bishop had not played since August 13 against the Calgary Flames.

The Avalanche needed a hot start and they got just that as they welcomed Bishop to the series early in the first period. After recording the first five shots of the game, the Avalanche waited only 4:37 to score, and it was Pierre-Edouard Bellemare who got his team on the board.

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Colorado kept the pressure on, earned a power play opportunity, and continued to register the bulk of the game’s shots. The Avs were unable to cash in on the power play, but it wasn’t long after the advantage expired that Colorado extended its lead.

First, Andre Burakovsky buried his fifth goal of the playoffs after Ben Bishop allowed a rebound on the original Avalanche shot. Less than a minute later, Nathan MacKinnon made it a 3-0 lead for his club on a wicked one-timer. At the time of the third goal, the shot totals were 16-3.

The Stars called a timeout after the third goal, but it did not stop the Avalanche from once again enhancing the lead, this time thanks to Nazem Kadri. Like MacKinnon’s, his goal was his eighth of the postseason. Less than a minute after that, Mikko Rantanen tipped a Samuel Girard shot in to make it 5-0 Colorado and give his team its fourth goal in 2:36.

For the Stars, only three players did not carry a minus rating into the second period, and Ben Bishop was pulled from the game after the fourth goal was scored. This game was his first in over two weeks and it showed, as rebound control was lacking and the rust was apparent.

Fortunately, Dallas found some momentum early in the second period when its penalty kill unit disposed of an Avalanche power play, part of which was a five-on-three. They failed to cash in on a power play of their own, however, and ultimately were unable to really swing things in their favor. The Stars did finally get on the board later in the period when Joe Pavelski scored.

From there, things turned physical. The Stars began to throw their bodies around more frequently, several penalties were taken, and most shots held by goalies led to skirmishes in front of the net. That rough play eventually led to a power play goal by Miro Heiskanen of Dallas, making it a 5-2 game.

Things quickly unraveled, though, as a defensive zone turnover by Dallas led to a second Burakovsky goal, a 6-2 Avalanche lead, and a Colorado power play, thanks to an infraction committed after the goal was scored.

The ice shifted back in the Stars’ favor in the third period, as they earned an early 10-1 advantage in shots and really confined the play to the Avalanche end. After penalties plagued the middle portion of the period, Dallas got a power play goal from Jamie Benn to make the score 6-3. Not long after that goal, the Stars elected to pull their netminder, but no other goals came to fruition.

Overall, this game showcased what the Avalanche are capable of when they are at their best. It also should give them some confidence defensively, since the three goals scored by the Stars were their fewest in any game this series.

Depth scoring has been a problem at times in this series for the Avalanche, but it was another strength of Colorado’s in Game 5. The Avs had 13 players record a point in this contest, which can build some confidence going into Game 6.

My two biggest takeaways from this game are the importance of momentum and the inability to stay disciplined by both teams. Momentum swings have decided games in this series, and it is critical for both teams to take advantage when they get opportunities. The Avalanche did that in period one, while the Stars were unable to cash in when things were going their way in the third.

As for discipline, there were a combined 56 penalty minutes in Game 5. Colorado gave Dallas six power plays despite being in control for much of the game, while the Stars saw Blake Comeau and Joe Pavelski each receive ten minute misconduct penalties in the final frame. Both clubs need to figure out how to stay focused and out of the box.

These teams will meet for Game 6 on Wednesday, as the Stars will once again attempt to eliminate the Avalanche, while Colorado will look for a repeat of tonight’s outcome.