The Colorado Avalanche managed to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime as Andre Burakovsky slapped a one-timer passed Andrei Vasilevskiy to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. But, from an Avalanche perspective, Burakovsky’s overtime heroics should never have had to happen. The game should have been won far sooner.
There is no easier way of saying this, the Avalanche were too kind to the Lightning in the first 30 minutes of the game. Kind, you question? How were they kind? They put three past Vasilevskiy and were all over the Lightning. The Lightning hardly knew what hit them.
And my response would be that you are exactly right. They were all over the Lightning and put three first period goals past them for the first time while Vasilevskiy has been their starting playoff goaltender. That is the issue.
The Avalanche needed to crush the Lightning while they were disoriented and lethargic. The reigning, defending, two-time Stanley Cup champions were at the Avalanche’s mercy, and the Avs pulled them back onto their feet.
By not scoring another goal or two at the start of the second, they gave the Lightning hope that they could bring themselves back into the game. And they did.
By scoring two goals in under two minutes, the Lightning took all the momentum away from Colorado, and gained a foothold in this series that could have been avoided. If this game ended in a blowout, then there would be nothing for the Lightning to cling onto for hope and inspiration in Game 2.
Of course, it is just important to win games at this time of the year. The manner of how you win is not nearly as important as it would be during the regular season.
Still, dominating your opponent throughout the 60 minutes of a game does wonders to damage their confidence going into the next game, which the Avalanche need if they are to beat the Lightning.
Tonight showed the Lightning can overcome the Avs speed, skill, and strength, yet the Avalanche showed they can dominate the two-time Stanley Cup champions too. Avs need to follow the gameplan from the first 30 minutes, not the last 30 if they are to win this series.
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