Last week I wrote that the Edmonton Oilers held the advantage going into game two of the Western Conference finals. Boy, was I wrong.
Four nights later, the Oilers were eliminated from the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs courtesy of a four-game sweep by the Colorado Avalanche. Despite the Oil’s best efforts, they were simply outmatched this round.
I certainly wasn’t expecting a series sweep going into the Western Conference finals and I’m not quite sure if there are many who were, despite die-hard Avs fans, maybe?
NO “I” IN “TEAM”
Shared offence with aggressive defence was the name of the game for the Avalanche, advancing to their first Stanley Cup final since their 2001 championship season.
Playing from behind and having to come back on more than one occasion made for an entertaining back and forth contest, but the Avs showed resilience when facing 3-1 and 4-2 goal deficits, even mixing in a little luck with their overtime winner.
Artturi Lehkonen scored the game winner on Monday night, an overtime goal that sent his team to the Stanley Cup final for the second year in a row. Lehkonen was acquired by the Avalanche at this year’s trade deadline for defenceman prospect Justin Barron and a 2024 second-round pick. He signed a one year, $2.3 million contract in July 2021, and is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
Before the Western Conference finals started, I would have told you that there wasn’t a kryptonite against Connor McDavid. The 25-year-old Oiler’s captain is arguable the greatest player of this generation and is in the conversation for the greatest of all time.
One defenceman who might have a say about that is 23-year-old Calgary native Cale Makar. With 22 points in 14 games played these playoffs, Makar must be considered a favourite to win the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. The Avs defenceman finished the regular season with 86 points in 77 games played, scoring 28 goals, and dishing out 58 assists.
The offensive trio of Nathan McKinnon (18), Gabriel Landeskog (17), and Mikko Rantanen (17) has closed the game on points produced these playoffs, with forwards Nazem Kadri (14), Artturi Lehknonen (11) and D-man Devon Toews (13) also boasting double-digit points produced.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
As game five between the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning gets going on Thursday night, the Avalanche will have a week or so to get themselves healthy and focused on winning their third Stanley Cup.
If the Eastern Conference finals goes the distance, game seven is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, which would more than likely have the Stanley Cup finals starting between June 16-18. The Lightning evened up the series 2-2 with a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.
Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri had surgery on Monday for a thumb injury sustained from a hit by Oilers’ Evander Kane in game three. The team has not yet ruled Kadri out for the remainder of the post-season, according to Sportsnet, and the Avalanche have not confirmed the 31-year-old’s status as of the writing of this article. Kadri had four points in three games against Edmonton.
A FAIR FIGHT
As the Finals’ matchup hasn’t been determined yet, predicting a winner wouldn’t be fair. While one could easily look at the Avalanche on paper and assume they’re likely Cup winners, may I remind you what happens when you assume.
If these playoffs have taught me anything, it’s that no prediction is safe until the final whistle has been blown. With both the Rangers and the Lightning seeming up for the challenge, champions of the East will be crowned soon enough.
Game five is scheduled for June 9 at 8:00pm EST.
Andrew Stuetz