The Colorado Avalanche didn’t allow for any surprises at the start of their 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs run. With a 5-3 win on Monday night, the Avalanche completed the sweep against the Nashville Predators and are the first team to make it to the second round.
After dominating performances for the better part of the series, Colorado found itself in uncharted territory in Game 4. They were trailing 3-2 after four minutes in the third quarter and it appeared that the absence of starting goalie Darcy Kuemper was a much bigger problem than anyone thought it would be.
Luckily for the Avalanche, Devon Toews scored a goal midway through the period to make things even before Valeri Nichushkin, and Nathan MacKinnon contributed one apiece as well to put the Predators away.
“It was a lot of emotion,” said MacKinnon after the game. “Down 3-2 in the third, the boys battle back. It wasn’t our best night. The first three games were a lot better. But we found a way.”
Avalanche, who finished the regular season as the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, will probably have to wait a bit before learning their opponent in the second round. They are set to play against the winner of the matchup between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, which is currently tied at 2-2.
