In Game 2 against the Avalanche on Friday, Arizona “played a really good hockey game,” according to coach Rick Tocchet. But the Coyotes still lost 3-2 and trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven first-round series at the Western Conference hub in Edmonton.
Here’s five takeaways with Saturday’s Game 3 already looming:
1. One shot. The Avs only needed one shot from Andre Burakovsky to make the difference at Rogers Place. Burakovsky’s first shot of the game, which was also his last shot of the game, gave the Avs a 3-2 lead with just 2:53 remaining in regulation.
Colorado’s other goals came from Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Jost, the latter of whom was replacing Joonas Donskoi, who was “unfit to play” for whatever reason.
Jost, whom Avs coach Jared Bednar has been impressed with since training camp began, is probably looking at a more consistent role moving forward in this series.
2. Where is Val? Second-line forward Valeri Nichushkin is pointless in five playoff games, including three in last week’s round-robin tournament, and he was minus-2 and held without a shot against Arizona in Game 2.
Big Val is struggling in a top-six role, and although he seems to play better with increased ice time, don’t be surprised if he drops to the third line and Burakovsky returns to the top-six.
3. “You got to go down swinging.” Those were the words of Tocchet after Game 2, when he was pleased with how his team played after producing just 14 shots in Game 1. The Yotes had 32 shots Friday.
“We played a good hockey game. It’s more like it. I’m proud of the way they played,” Tocchet said. “They responded. They were in their faces. That’s more like the way we need to play consistently.”
He added: “You got to go down swinging.”
4. Powerless. This game featured eight power plays with zero goals. Both teams were 0-for-4 with the man-advantage. While the power play didn’t play a major factor in Game 2, the roughing penalty late in the second period to Avs star right winger Mikko Rantanen could have cost Colorado dearly. It came 190 feet away from the Avs’ net in a 2-2 game, and Rantanen’s elbow to Jason Demers’ head was an easy call for the refs.
5. Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer has allowed just two goals in two games. While his relatively easy 14-save shutout in Game 1 was just that, “Gruby” is proving he’s the man to carry the mail for this team — and why he might get the Game 3 start Saturday despite a quick turnaround from Game 2.
