The gitch continue to get a little tighter with each series preview I write involving the Avs. I took both Vegas and Colorado to win in the first round. Vegas had to grind it out against the Wild, and Colorado put on an absolute clinic against the hapless Blues. Let’s take a look at how they match up in the second round.
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If there is one team that can grind the shit out of someone its Vegas. They are built for playoff hockey. From the first line to the fourth, this is a heavy group. Outside of Max Pacioretty. That boy is soft as baby shit. They are a scoring by committee type team, but the Stephenson line can be scary if they get rolling. As soft as Pacioretty is, getting him back is a huge addition. Ryan Reaves always has the potential to turn the tide in a series by being the complete shithead he is. He brings an element the Avs do not have. They are going to have to play this way if they are to have any chance in this series. The Colorado forward group is the cat’s ass of the NHL. Nate Dogg has taken his game to another level of late. If his line keeps rolling this could be a short series. I think the collective speed of this group will be too much for Vegas to handle. Having Nazem Kadri out for another 6 games hurts. This could be their one weakness in the series. However, I think Tyson Jost will be able to fill in nicely while he is out. Advantage Colorado.
Defence
This is a pretty even match up. Vegas is big and nasty. They have some serious talent to boot with Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo leading the way. The big question will be can they slow down the Avalanche attack. Colorado is not nearly as salty a group as Vegas, but significantly more mobile. There is not much else I can say about Cale Makar at this point. He is simply the best in the game at what he does. The emergence of Sam Girard and the addition of Devon Toews will go a long way in this series. Advantage Colorado.
Goaltending
This is an interesting match up for me. Mark Andre Fleury has been dynamite this season. I don’t see any reason for that to change. I heard rumblings that Robin Lehner might get the start in game 1. I assume that is to give Fleury a little rest. I hope the Avs light up Lehner and send him back to the bench where he belongs. For Philipp Grubauer this will be a great opportunity for him to go head to head with one of the best to do it. I think this will be a defining series for him. I am certain he will be up to the task. This is a draw for me between the pipes.
Prediction
The big thing I like about Vegas is all the Western Hockey League boys they have in their lineup. I think this is where they get a lot of their grit from. Unfortunately they’re going up against one of the best teams of the last decade. The only thing that can slow Colorado down at this point is injuries. If they stay healthy, they dominate Vegas. Colorado in 6.