The Colorado Avalanche sought to carry the momentum forward from their dominant win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as they hosted Game 2 in Denver on Thursday night. In a hard-hitting physical contest featuring 102 total hits in the first three periods, 60 minutes wasn’t enough to decide the game.
The teams skated to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime. It was Colorado defenseman and Norris Trophy contender Cale Makar who broke the tie with a wrist shot through traffic, finally beating Predators netminder Connor Ingram, who had put on a goaltending clinic through the entire game. For Makar, who finished the season with 28 goals, leading all NHL defensemen, it was his second goal in two games and his eighth career playoff goal in just 36 playoff games.
While Colorado had fewer hits, blocked shots, and won only 44 percent of their faceoffs, they outplayed the Predators throughout the entire contest, outshooting them 51 to 26, and dominating the time of possession.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
Connor Ingram Stands on His Head
Before we get to any commentary on the solid performance from the Avalanche, the stellar play of Ingram has to be acknowledged first.
With Predators’ All-Star goaltender Juuse Saros injured and backup netminder David Rittich having been lit up in the first game of the series, allowing five goals on 13 shots, head coach John Hynes leaned on Ingram, a 25-year-old rookie, to start his first-ever NHL postseason game. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was more than equal to the task.
Related: Predators Face Tough Postseason Choice With Saros Injury
Ingram stopped 41 of 42 shots in regulation and another eight in overtime for a total of 49 saves on 51 shots. Added to the 30 of 32 shots he stopped in relief of Rittich in Game 1, Ingram has now saved 79 of 83 shots, for a save percentage of .952 in the series.
Connor Ingram, Nashville Predators (Photo by…
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