Instant reaction from the Avalanche’s 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
Goin’ crazy for Casey: The hole left behind by Nazem Kadri has officially been filled, and his name is Casey Mittelstadt. Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres just before the trade deadline in March, the second-line center has been nothing short of spectacular working alongside Zach Parise and Artturi Lehkonen in these playoffs. Case in point: His work along the end boards to set up Lehkonen’s first-period goal. The backhanded pass alone — perfectly slid along the ice through a pair of defenders — would’ve been good enough. But the stick work just to get that puck to the other side of the net before that? Chef’s kiss. A lack of depth scoring ultimately undid last year’s Stanley Cup defense. With Mittelstadt & Co. rolling, it appears that’s no longer an issue.
Work of Art-turi: Speaking of postseason performers (and trade deadline wins), should the Avs just tell Artturi Lehkonen it’s a playoff game every time he takes the ice? Few Avs up their level of play in the postseason better than the 2022 deadline acquisition. The Finnish winger now has 27 points in 31 postseason games with Colorado after notching one goal and one assist in Sunday’s win. While Casey Mittelstadt and Zach Parise were responsible for the lion’s share of the dirty work to set up his one-timer in the first period, it was Lehkonen who got greasy in the second period. Setting up shop in front of the crease, as is so often his wont, Lehkonen served up Valeri Nichushkin’s second of three goals on a platter, collecting a loose puck in front of the crease and flicking it over to Val for an easy score.
A series flipped in seven days: What a difference a week makes. Just seven days ago, Avs fans and prognosticators alike were burning goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in effigy after he gave up seven goals in a 7-6 Game 1 defeat — Colorado’s fourth straight loss against Winnipeg this season. Three games later? It’s safe to say this series has flipped. Completely. Now it’s the great Connor Hellebuyck who’s getting lit up like a pinball machine (to be fair, the Avs toasted him in Game 1, too), and pulled after Cale Makar made him look silly with a wrister over his right shoulder. Whatever mastery the Jets had over the Avs is gone. The shots on goal tally through four games is now 153-103 in Colorado’s favor. The series is 3-1, Avs. And the only mystery left is whether Colorado closes this out in Manitoba or back at Ball Arena.
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