Back To Denver Facing Elimination

For the first time this post season, the Colorado Avalanche will face elimination.

Avs head coach Jim Montgomery doesn’t necessarily see it that way though. “You know, in a lot of ways we basically played the last 3 months of the regular season do or die, tonight is no different.”

What is different tonight though, the Avs will be without captain and future hall of famer Alex Ovechkin, who broke his finger in his team’s game 5 loss. Adding insult to injury, both literally and figuratively.

In what will be an obvious gaping hole in their lineup, the Avs will look to net minder Connor Hellebuyck to fill the void. “Gotta keep the puck out of my net, I have faith (that) the rest of our lineup can score with or without Ovi, I just have to do my job.”

The rest of the lineup that Hellebuyck speaks of, is needing Avalanche forward Tage Thompson to have one of his best games of the year. Thompson; who has only found the net 5 times this post season, needs to be a big contributor if Colorado is to climb out of this hole. A task that head coach Jim Montgomery feels his # 1 centre is more than capable of. “We’re happy with his game right now, he’s shooting the puck, he’s in the right spots and most importantly he’s playing the right way. We’ll lean on him tonight, I have no doubt he’ll leave an impact.”

Avs GM Kirklan Lycar was asked for his thoughts after the game 5 loss and had this to say. “A resilient, mature, veteran bunch. This isn’t the end of our story. That group of men has had their back’s against the wall since game one of the regular season, so what’s the difference now? We’re injured yeah, so is everyone this time of year. Zero excuses. We’re getting the job done tonight and flying back to Seattle for game 7. See you Saturday.”

Harald Geissler

when is game seven scheduled?

Back To Denver Facing Elimination
Despite having their back's against the wall, the group remains optimistic.

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