'That's something we're looking to do again tonight': Avalanche confidence high ahead of Game 6 vs Dallas Stars
Colorado faces elimination Friday night in Game 6 but comes into the matchup with confidence from a Game 5 win. The team is looking to continue the momentum to live to fight another day.
"It's going to have to start like we did last game. Just making sure that we get right back to it at the beginning of the game, make sure guys legs are going ... feed off the crowd so it should be hopefully a good home game," Cale Makar said after morning skate.
The Stars are up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and could close out with a win. But the Avs can force a Game 7 with a victory to survive for another shot at winning the second round.
"I think the pressure’s on both teams. We have the pressure to play well and try to create a Game 7 here, and they a pressure to close it out. But we have the guys in the room to do it, and tonight should be a lot of fun," Miles Wood said.
Head coach Jared Bednar said his team played with more ease in Game 5 — and defenseman Sean Walker said they played more comfortably to their identity.
"I think we just played really well, played within our structure and our systems the way we wanted to play the game. I mean, obviously once we get the lead there, kind of makes them come out of their defensive structure that's been so stifling for us," Walker said. "So yeah, I thought we did a good job of creating more Grade A chances and getting a lot of opportunities around the net. That's something we're looking to do again tonight.”
Ross Colton said the team settled down a bit in Game 5 and did not focus so much on the outcome as they did their structure and details.
"Yeah I think at times maybe we were pressing too much, just worrying about kind of sitting back and trying to get the win instead of taking it to them. I think last game, we did a good job of that," the 27-year-old forward said. "I felt we played a little more loose, a little more free. Didn’t worry so much about turning pucks over. Just did the little things, chipping it in, making the D turn and we forced a lot of turnovers so it was good."
There was high energy in the room after the team's morning skate. With their backs against the wall, there is a sense of excitement and fun among the Avalanche ahead of Game 6.
"I think you're putting the pressure on yourself and your team and each other early in the series, and then you win Game 1 — you're feeling pretty good and you lose three in a row and that confidence starts to dissipate," Bednar said. "We felt like we've done some good things that we've been trying to grab on to and repeat more often. And I thought the game in Dallas we did, and guys were feeling good about it. They played hard, they played well. We made some mistakes, we'll have to clean up but I think all in all mood's good. They're excited to go for tonight. And it's all you can ask for."
Projected lineup
Bednar confirmed center Yakov Trenin is out on injury but remains day-to-day.
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Artturi Lehkonen
Zach Parise — Casey Mittelstadt — Mikko Rantanen
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Joel Kiviranta
Brandon Duhaime — Chris Wagner — Andrew Cogliano
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Jack Johnson — Sean Walker
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
The puck drops at 8 p.m. at Ball Arena.
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