The Colorado Avalanche did what the team with the best record in hockey is supposed to do, open the playoffs with a Game 1 win. 30 seconds into in the 3rd period, MVP candidate Nathan MacKinnon found the back of the net to break a 1-1 tie. MacKinnon would fire a shot from the point a few mins later that was redirected by Captain Gabe Landeskog to give the Avs a commanding 3-1 lead, and then MacKinnon would skate free past the Blues defense to drop an empty-netter in and ice the opener.
Landeskog was named the 1st star of the night, and had the 'ol fashioned Gordie Howe hat-trick with a goal, an assist and a fight early in the game when he took exception to a hit on Mikko Rantanen. But the Captain downplayed his individual numbers, was only focused on one thing.
Cale Makar got the scoring going in the 1st, as he lit the lamp with a slap shot on the 1st Power Play of the night. A hooking penalty from former Av Ryan O’Reilly set up that Power Play opportunity. Ball Arena was 42% full or just shy of 8,000 fans, but it certainly seemed like it was more crowded.
The Avalanche outshot the Blues 50-23. Phillip Grubauer stopped all by 1 of the 23 shots he faced
Game 2 is Wednesday night at Ball Arena at 8:30
Here is the full video of the Zoom Press Conferences for Makar, Landeskog and Bednar postgame:
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