Every first-round Western Conference playoff series is dripping with storylines. Despite a one-sided rivalry during the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets had their share of talking points going into their first-round series, too. The Avalanche hold a 3-1 series lead entering tonight’s Game 5, as they’ve answered the bell after dropping Game 1.
There were two big questions entering this series. Could the Avs right the ship after getting hammered in all three regular-season contests against the Jets? Would goaltender Alexandar Georgiev be Colorado’s downfall after some dismal play entering the postseason? Both of those questions have been answered in the last three games. Here’s a look at who’s shining, who’s struggling, and who is flat-out awful in the first-round series between the Avalanche and Jets.
Studs: Makar, Mittelstadt, Nichushkin Pushing Colorado
Cale Makar has been a top-shelf playoff performer since his first shot with the team in 2019. He’s continued to impress this postseason – particularly with one of the best goals of the playoffs so far. He leads the high-powered Avalanche offense with eight points and is delivering exactly as you’d expect. He’s tallied 73 points in 65 playoff games in his career and registered multi-point games in three of this year’s four playoff games. He’s the driving force that starts so much for the Avalanche, and he has not disappointed this postseason.
The Avalanche brought in Casey Mittelstadt in a deal at the trade deadline to, hopefully, fill the second-line center spot. This has been an issue for much of the last two seasons, but the revolving door stops here. Mittelstadt held his own in the regular season and has been spectacular this postseason with a goal and four assists. The tally was his first career playoff goal and came in a three-goal third period of a 7-6 loss for the Avalanche in Game 1, but that period was a harbinger of what was coming in the next three games. After the Avs dispatched the Jets in Game 2, Mittelstadt was in the thick of a five-goal third period in Game 3, posting three assists – including two just 4:24 apart to slam the door. He is who the Avalanche needed at that spot, and he’s been a fantastic addition.
Related: 3 Avalanche Players Who Must Come Through Against the Jets
Colorado’s playoffs lasted just seven games a season ago when they were bounced in the first round by…
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