Colorado Avalanche

The Eastern Conference Final was billed as a battle of the two best goaltenders in the world, while the Western Conference Final featured two of the best forwards in the world.

On Monday night, Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche bested Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, just as many predicted.

It's not that MacKinnon is better than McDavid—though he might have a claim to being the second-best player in the world—but the Avalanche are built to win and built to win now. The Oilers overcame poor roster construction and a midseason coaching change to get to this point, but their season is over after Colorado completed the swept with a 6-5 overtime victory.

An Avs win always felt inevitable. They proved they belong in the Stanley Cup Final by stepping on the throats of their opponents and not letting up, from their opening series against the Nashville Predators to their second-round win versus the St. Louis Blues. After years of playoff disappointment, the narrative around the team has shifted as the Avalanche have exorcised playoff demons and shown they know how to win when it counts, and done so convincingly.

Artturi Lehkonen scored the overtime winner—which was fitting since he scored the overtime winner that sent the Montreal Canadiens to the Cup Final last year—but Cale Makar set it up with a rocket of a shot from the point, which was maybe even more fitting given how Makar has driven this team through the postseason.

The defenseman had a five-point night to bring his total to 22. His 17.43 expected goals in the postseason trail only McDavid's 20.68. He was named a Norris Trophy finalist for his incredible production in the regular season, and he's looked every bit as good in the postseason. He might be the best two-way defenseman in the league, and he proved that by being matched up with McDavid shift by shift.

Colorado has a deep defense corps outside of Makar and his partner, Devon Toews. The Avalanche lost Samuel Girard in the second round when he broke his sternum against the Blues, but Bowen Byram, who missed so much of the last few seasons with concussion issues, has been having a breakout postseason.

Per Corey Sznajder, the Avs blueliners have proved to be adept at evading pressure and avoiding turnovers.

Puck retrievals were the main category I added to my tracking this year. It's another way to look at zone eixts, but more of how good defensemen are at evading pressure to make plays or avoid turnovers. Not a surprise to see Colorado as the leader in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/wmxUiuoucy

— Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) June 6, 2022

And the defensemen had to be good, especially against McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But the Oilers provided help in that regard, particularly in net.

Despite a characteristically dominant performance by McDavid and an unreal performance by a clearly hobbled Draisaitl, Edmonton was undone by inconsistent goaltending from Mike Smith and by a much deeper Colorado roster.

It's unfortunate that fans will have to wait yet another year to see if McDavid and Draisaitl can make it to a Stanley Cup Final, and it's maddening for fans in Alberta to see a team with world-class players continually come up short. There were times during this run that it felt like McDavid was singlehandedly winning games, dragging the Oilers from series to series.

Edmonton now has a lot of time off to figure out where to go next. General manager Ken Holland has to make a decision about interim coach Jay Woodcroft, and it's unlikely the club will be able to afford Evander Kane. The Oilers lack depth and a No. 1 goaltender and are in deep trouble with the salary cap.

That's a story for another day. For now, the focus is on Colorado.

While the Avs have been impressive, they're also banged up, and their depth will be tested in the Cup Final. Nazem Kadri was injured in Game 3, and it's unlikely he will play another game this season. He was making a case to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

But the biggest question for the Avalanche in the next round is arguably goaltending. It's been an eventful postseason for netminders all over the league, and Colorado hasn't been immune to the drama. Darcy Kuemper was injured during Game 1 and missed Games 2-4.

Pavel Francouz recorded a shutout in Game 3 but allowed five goals in Game 4. Kuemper was able to back him up, which was a promising sign, and the time off will be beneficial.

A year ago, MacKinnon lamented Colorado's lack of postseason success in a sullen news conference. The desire to rewrite the narrative has helped power the Avs to the top, which is where a team with two top-five players belongs.

All they have to do now is finish the job to secure the legacy.

It's a sad day in Alberta's capital city.

Flags are coming down. Wagers are being paid. Beards are being shaved.

Because the Edmonton Oilers didn't win the Stanley Cup.

After a gut-wrenching 6-5 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final completed an inglorious weeklong sweep, the franchise in the NHL's northernmost city won't be having a parade.

IT'S OVER. LEHKONEN SENDS THE AVS TO THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL https://t.co/dreQ4bNZWD

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 7, 2022

It's been 31 consecutive seasons since the franchise last hoisted the Stanley Cup when the team won its fifth title in seven years.

So for fans of a certain age, it’s just another unsatisfying spring in the “City of (Ex-)Champions.”

Still, it seems a little different this time around.

Rather than compiling post-mortems with more laundry lists of reasons the team can't win as currently constructed, those closest to the group are actually suggesting (gasp!) optimism.

Not surprisingly, the biggest reasons wear uniform Nos. 97 and 29.

Though the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl captured four scoring titles, three MVPs and four Ted Lindsay Awards, they managed to win just eight playoff games—and one playoff series—across their first six seasons of playing together since McDavid was picked No. 1 overall in 2015.

Certainly shy of the four banners that Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier hung before their partnership ended in 1988.

But stirring series wins over the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames this spring created the momentum to suggest it can happen again—at least once because they're still a pretty good pair.

Even after a four-game erasure by the Avalanche, both McDavid (33) and Draisaitl (32) are still well ahead in the league's playoff scoring race thanks to the cartoonish rate at which they'd produced against the Kings and Flames.

Most points in a playoff year without making it to the #StanleyCup Final:
35- Doug Gilmour (TOR, 1993)
33- Connor McDavid (@EdmontonOilers in 2022 via 10 goals & 23 assists)
33- Rick Middleton (BOS, 1983)
32- Leon Draisaitl (EDM in 2022 via 7G-25A)
32- Barry Pederson (BOS, 1983) pic.twitter.com/su1HvP2zTn

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) June 7, 2022

That clip was on the heels of an equally absurd season in which they’d finished first and fourth in the league with a combined 233 total points.

And the best news? They’re no longer alone.

Individual accolades notwithstanding, the uptick in Edmontonian positivity has more than a little to do with the sturdier supporting cast assembled by embattled general manager Ken Holland.

Winger Zach Hyman was brought in on a seven-year, $38.5 million deal last summer and paid off with career-highs in goals (27) and points (54).

Evander Kane was plucked from the NHL bargain bin in late January and scored 35 goals in 58 regular and postseason games.

Minor-league coach Jay Woodcroft arrived after Dave Tippett was fired on February 10, and the Oilers responded with a 26-9-3 record down the stretch. It included a 14-0-1 run across the final 15 home games, as the Oilers set a new franchise record for consecutive games with a point at home.

In fact, Woodcroft's eight playoff wins are already tied for fifth in Edmonton's coaching history.

"A little bit of a younger voice," McDavid said of his head coach to the Canadian Press (h/t TheStar.com).

“He’s brought a lot of energy and a lot of passion to the job. We fed off that. The message he preaches is something that I think we all agree with. Something that we all can buy into.”

Woodcroft's bond with youngsters Ryan McLeod (two goals against Colorado) and Dylan Holloway (NHL debut in Game 4 of the WCF) was forged in the AHL and makes them vital to Edmonton as it heads into an important offseason. The Oilers have an onerous salary cap situation ($7.1 million) and uncertainty in goal and on defense.

Defensemen Evan Bouchard, 22, and Philip Broberg, 20, could be promoted to full-time, too, potentially giving the team nine of its own first-round picks in the everyday lineup.

The prolific Kane warrants a big boost from the prorated $1.38 million he made with the Oilers through season's end. Meanwhile, McLeod, Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto are due for raises as restricted free agents alongside decisions to be made on another eight with unrestricted status.

A deep, skilled Colorado team revealed Edmonton's soft blue line, with an average of 43.0 shots allowed—following a season with a rate of 32.3 shots (12th-most in the NHL) and overall playoffs with an average of 38.9 shots (fourth-most)—that simultaneously magnified questions in the net.

Forty-year-old starter Mike Smith was statistically sound—2.81 goals-against average and .915 save percentage—for a second straight regular season.

But his inconsistency was never more apparent than in a series-defining Game 3 when a number of spectacular saves were followed by a game-winning goal by third-line center J.T. Compher that trickled through his legs with 7:18 remaining.

He allowed six goals on 42 shots in the finale—including four in the third period—and finished with a pedestrian .872 save percentage and a downright ugly 5.57 goals-against average. On the flip side, Avalanche backup Pavel Francouz posted a .908 and a 2.81 GAA.

Smith is signed for one more season at $2.2 million, while backup Mikko Koskinen's three-year, $13.5 million deal is expiring. Holland will either have to stand pat and give AHL stalwart Stuart Skinner a shot at the full-time job after a 14-game audition or swing a deal to bring in an established commodity.

It's a lot for a GM, particularly one who's 66, to contend with.

And if he doesn't make the right choices, it won't be long before familiar fan angst returns.

But while the season's practical result was similar—no Cup, again—a surprise run to the league's final four and the continued prolific presence of the world's best player go a long way toward exorcising a generation of demons.

It also provided Holland with some additional time to keep the good vibes going.

The Colorado Avalanche are just one win from the Stanley Cup Final, but they may have to finish chasing a championship without one of their primary contributors.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported Monday that center Nazem Kadri underwent surgery on his thumb after suffering an injury on a hit by Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane during Saturday's Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.

While Kadri was not ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, Dreger noted it was "unlikely" he will return to the ice until the 2022-23 campaign.

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar had told reporters that Kadri would miss the rest of the series.

"He's out. He'll be out for the series at least, if not longer," Bednar said. "The hit, it's the most dangerous play in hockey. He puts him in headfirst from behind eight feet off the boards. I'll leave it at that."

Kane hit Kadri in the first period, and the Avalanche forward never returned. Gene Principe of Sportsnet reported Sunday that Kadri had a soft cast on his right wrist.

The Oilers forward was issued a five-minute major penalty for boarding, and the NHL Department of Player Safety announced he was suspended for one game.

While Colorado may not need Kadri to close out Edmonton after winning the first three games, his absence would be felt in the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 31-year-old tallied a career-best 87 points this season with 59 assists and 28 goals. His plus-minus of plus-13 was the second-best mark of his career, which started in the 2009-10 season and includes 10 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and three with Colorado.

The visiting Avalanche will look to close out the Oilers at 8 p.m. ET Monday.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane has been suspended one game for boarding Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri.

The play occurred early in Game 3 of the Avs' Western Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Evander Kane was given a 5-minute major for boarding on this hit on Nazem Kadri. #StanleyCup | #LetsGoOilers | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xRv9dN2WQs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2022

Kane received a five-minute major penalty.

Kadri is out for at least the remainder of the Western Conference Final because of an undisclosed injury, per Avs head coach Jared Bednar (h/t Peter Baugh of The Athletic).

According to Gene Principe of Sportsnet, Kadri was seen with a soft cast on his right wrist Sunday.

The Avalanche lead the best-of-seven series three games to none after a 4-2 win over the Oilers on Saturday. Game 4 will take place on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton.

Kadri is a big loss for the Avs. The 31-year-old has been sensational in this year's playoffs with six goals and eight assists in 13 games. He notably had the primary assist on the Avs' first three goals in a 4-0 win over Edmonton in Game 2.

Kane won't be easy to replace either. The 30-year-old dominated in limited action this year with 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 games. That's in addition to his NHL-high 13 goals in this season's playoffs.

Ultimately, the Oilers' backs are against the wall down 3-0. While not impossible, a comeback is unlikely against the Western Conference's top seed this year. The question for the Avs is the state of Kadri's health come Stanley Cup time.

It's unclear when the Final will take place until the New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series nears its conclusion. Right now, the Blueshirts hold a 2-1 series edge with Game 4 set for Tuesday. But Kadri would be a tough loss if he's forced to miss any Stanley Cup time.

For now, both teams need to regroup without their productive forwards as the Western Conference Final moves on.

Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri has been ruled out for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed while speaking with reporters following a 4-2 Game 3 win on Saturday.

Kadri left the first period of Saturday's game after taking a hit from behind into the end boards by Oilers forward Evander Kane.

"He's out. He'll be out for the series at least, if not longer," Bednar said. "I mean, the hit, it's the most dangerous play in hockey. I mean, he puts him in head-first from behind, you know, eight feet off the boards. I'll leave it at that."

As Kadri was trying to control the puck in the offensive zone just about one minute into the game, Kane crosschecked him in the numbers and knocked him into the boards. Kane was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding, and Kadri did not return to the game.

Evander Kane was given a 5-minute major for boarding on this hit on Nazem Kadri. #StanleyCup | #LetsGoOilers | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/xRv9dN2WQs

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2022

Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog also shared his thoughts on the hit in his postgame comments, telling reporters that he's sure the NHL Department of Safety will review it for a possible fine or suspension.

"I was on the bench, but I don't like it," Landeskog said. "You know, those are the ones that kind of gives you the chills down your spine. You're taught from a young age that you don't do that and especially in that distance from the boards. So, it's a dangerous play, and I don't know what else to say. I'm sure they'll take a look at it.

Kane was last suspended for an on-ice incident in February 2020 for elbowing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. He also served a 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocols in September 2021, but that wasn't an on-ice incident and wouldn't be factored into a potential suspension for boarding Kadri.

Kadri has been one of the best players for the Avalanche this year, tallying 28 goals and 59 assists in 71 regular-season games. The 31-year-old entered Saturday's game with six goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games.

With Kadri sidelined, J.T. Compher, who scored the game-winning goal in Game 3, could replace him on the second line. It's unclear who the Avs might call up to join the team for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals.

Colorado holds a 3-0 lead over Edmonton and could clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001 with a win in Game 4 on Monday at Rogers Place. 

The Colorado Avalanche have taken a 2-0 Western Conference Finals series lead over the Edmonton Oilers after Nadem Kadri powered the Avs to a 4-0 home win on Thursday.

A scoreless second-period tie turned into a 3-0 Avalanche lead in 2:04 thanks largely to Kadri, who had three primary assists and now has six goals and eight helpers in 12 playoff games.

Kadri initially received credit for the first goal, but that one eventually went to Artturi Lehkonen, who deflected it in.

Okay okay okay we’re catching up with ONE GOAL. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CTdgZKTsoT

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 3, 2022

Josh Manson and Mikko Rantanen scored the second and third goals, respectively.

TWO GOAL#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Jqw2BVLtjn

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 3, 2022

Burgundy and Blue Goal!!!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/30hkFGQTde

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 3, 2022

Kadri did excellent work on the third by feeding Rantanen on a two-on-one for the insurance goal, which occurred six minutes into the second period.

That was more than enough for the Avalanche, who shut down the Oilers thanks in part to goaltender Pavel Francouz's 24 saves. Nathan MacKinnon also added a late power-play goal for the 4-0 win.

Kadri was this game's superstar, though, and Twitter gave him due credit for his performance.

It feels like Kadri is angling for 1st Star of the night…he’s got my vote so far!@KOAColorado #GoAvsGo

— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) June 3, 2022

Fastest 3 assists by a player in a #StanleyCup Playoff game:
1:13- BOS's Ray Bourque (May 6, 1988 vs NJD)
1:55- VAN's Henrik Sedin (May 22, 2011 vs SJS)
2:00- STL's Chris Pronger (April 27, 1998 vs LAK)
2:04- @Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri (Tonight in the 2nd period against EDM) pic.twitter.com/ODLCIgGG2h

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) June 3, 2022

Talk about an @Avalanche of goals. 🏔️@43_Kadri had three assists in the middle frame to match the franchise record for most in a playoff period (also Risto Siltanen in Game 5 of 1987 DSF & Joe Sakic in Game 2 of 1996 SCF). #NHLStats: https://t.co/eKwm5QTTFV #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/bH7Na0zvEn

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 3, 2022

Nazem Kadri is scoring at 19,680-point pace the last 15 seconds.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) June 3, 2022

KADRI IS UNREAL. MIKE SMITH IS NOT.

— Nasher (@TheNasher61) June 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/MattDSchubert/status/1532536810856861696

Of all the players shown the door by the #leafs in recent years, Nazem Kadri truly is the one who got away.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 3, 2022

.@43_Kadri appreciation tweet because he’s absoltuely incredible. #GoAvsGo

— Luca Celebre (@LucaCelebre21) June 3, 2022

A three point night already for Nazem Kadri. He's been alright this postseason.#goavsgo #9sports #standwithnaz

— Arielle Orsuto (@ArielleOrsuto) June 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/ConorMichael28/status/1532540791913975809

Kadri, who scored a goal during the Avalanche's 8-6 Game 1 win, will now look to help lead Colorado to a Game 3 win when the Avs visit Edmonton on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

In the time it takes you to read this sentence, the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers may have scored two more goals.

Tuesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Final was a track meet on ice that Colorado won 8-6. The Avalanche's attack overwhelmed Edmonton's defense from the start, and they are now three wins away from their first Stanley Cup Final since 2001.

A high-scoring game wasn't exactly surprising with the star power in a series featuring Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, but few probably envisioned five combined goals in the first period and six combined goals in the second period.

Social media could barely keep up with the pace:

Oilers-Avalanche is just going to be two weeks of making goalies feel bad about themselves

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) June 1, 2022

#obligatory pic.twitter.com/9HXqp3VTdX

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 1, 2022

We need seven games of Oilers vs. Avalanche. This game is ELECTRIC.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 1, 2022

Oilers are fast but Avs look like team of Usain Bolts in first 15 mins. There is no snow in Avs' net as cleaning crew comes out at stoppage

— Jim Matheson (@jimmathesonnhl) June 1, 2022

Wow. Did you guys see that goal in the Avs/Oilers game? Don’t worry. If you missed it there’ll be another in about 11 seconds.

— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) June 1, 2022

What the hell are you supposed to do when it's Makar to Toews to MacKinnon, end to end, like that? Christ.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 1, 2022

My God, Nathan MacKinnon. Freaky, filthy display of speed and hands!! How many on the planet can make that play?!! @Avalanche up early. #EDMvsCOL

— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) June 1, 2022

The Colorado Avalanche are playing downhill, I am the first person to ever tweet this

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 1, 2022

show this hockey game to anybody who is not a hockey fan and tell them they're all like this

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) June 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/minter/status/1531793816709222400

Avalanche-Oilers is already electric!

5 combined goals in the 1st period. We're in for a fun series 🍿 pic.twitter.com/bwjwX5mNBl

— Buzzer (@buzzer) June 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/alex_kirshner/status/1531810188646395904

Oilers and Avs goalies tonight 🤣 @BR_OpenIce pic.twitter.com/OyhMOQpgns

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 1, 2022

In a contest where seemingly everyone stuffed the stat sheet, J.T. Compher (two goals) and Cale Makar (one goal and two assists) stood out for Colorado, while McDavid (one goal and two assists) did for Edmonton.

The first period saw Evander Kane open the scoring just for Compher to answer in a mere 36 seconds. That was far longer than Makar needed when he responded to Zach Hyman's goal with one of his own just nine seconds later. The Makar goal was somewhat controversial because of an offside review, but it stood.

Intermission didn't cool down the respective offenses, as goals from Nazem Kadri, Ryan McLeod, Mikko Rantanen and Compher in the first seven minutes of the second period made it 6-3.

JT COMPHER GETS IT RIGHT BACK FOR THE AVS 🔥 https://t.co/3suspezeZF

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

MacKinnon with the soft mitts 👀🧤 https://t.co/GgVjkYiTLW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

This one COUNTS!

The Avs take back the lead 5 seconds after the Oilers tied the game 😳 https://t.co/z8zZz3xlQH

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

GOALS ON GOALS ON GOALS 🚨 https://t.co/Bok7LjgCDD

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

COMPHER AGAIN. 6-3 Avs and Mike Smith will leave the game 😳 https://t.co/JM4pUohtuB

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

Draisaitl and McDavid connect to try to get the Oilers back in this one 😤 https://t.co/sopY7BkXaK

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

IT'S 7-6. THIS IS NOT A DRILL 😱 https://t.co/jcEHCnm9YB

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 1, 2022

The second period also marked the end of the day for both goaltenders with Edmonton pulling Mike Smith for Mikko Koskinen and Colorado inserting Pavel Francouz because Darcy Kuemper suffered an upper-body injury. McDavid managed a goal against the backup, but the Avalanche still led 7-4 heading to the third.

Nothing about Tuesday's game was straightforward, though, so it followed that Derek Ryan and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to make it 7-6 and put all the pressure on Colorado's side in the closing stretch.

However, Gabriel Landeskog's empty-netter ended the tension for the victors, who will look to defend home ice once again in Thursday's Game 2.

The Colorado Avalanche announced that goaltender Darcy Kuemper left and is doubtful to return to Game 1 of his team's Western Conference Final matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

It's unclear how Kuemper suffered the injury, but he did leave on his own power in the second period after speaking with head coach Jared Bednar.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1531812657514303488

Pavel Francouz replaced Kuemper, who made 13 saves on 16 shots in 27-plus minutes. The Avs led 6-3 when he left the game.

The 32-year-old Kuemper went 37-12-4 with a 2.54 GAA and .921 save percentage in his first year with the Avs. The 10-year NHL veteran played for the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks before arriving in Colorado.

Thanks in part to his efforts, the Avs finished with a Western Conference-high 119 points. They have home-ice advantage in the conference final versus the Oilers as they search for their first Stanley Cup appearance since 2000.

If you didn't realize that Darren Helm is still playing in the NHL, then you certainly realized it on Friday night following his game-winning goal in the Colorado Avalanche's 3-2 Game 6 victory over the St. Louis Blues. 

Helm was the "unlikely hero" in Game 6, scoring with just 4.9 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Avalanche to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2002, and fans quickly took to Twitter to laud the 15-year veteran. 

Lol Darren Helm would be the hero

— Megan Hiler (@MegThePIO) May 28, 2022

Just as we all predicted, Compher scored two, Darren Helm scores late and Colorado Avalanche are headed to the Western Conference Final. Go figure.

— Steve Simmons (@simmonssteve) May 28, 2022

With everyone nervous, confidence teetering to panic, series feeling like it could be slipping and you need guys to step up.

JT Compher, Darren Helm and Josh Manson got it done. Just like we all expected.#GoAvsGo

— Brett Kane (@BrettKaneRadio) May 28, 2022

I’m gonna be honest. I had no idea Darren Helm was on the Avs. Hell I had no clue Darren Helm was still in the league

— Greg Slusarski (@gregslusarski02) May 28, 2022

#DarrenHelm

every 13 years, like clockwork! https://t.co/lVabNIGQVe

— gregg krupa (@greggkrupa) May 28, 2022

Wait Darren Helm is still in the NHL , isn’t that dude like 60

— Ricky Monzo (@Ricky_Monzo) May 28, 2022

Did Darren Helm start playing in the NHL when he was 13? He has been around for a million years and is 35 years old.

— JSk3lt (@joskelto) May 28, 2022

I legitimately forgot Darren Helm existed.

— Chris 🐍 (@Metalleaf) May 28, 2022

Prior to scoring the game and series winner with 5 seconds left tonight to send his @Avalanche to the Western Conference Final, Darren Helm had not scored a playoff goal since Gm4 of DET's 2016 Rd1 series vs TBL. It was his 1st playoff game winning tally since May 6, 2011 vs SJS pic.twitter.com/J6NQBnsMui

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) May 28, 2022

Darren Helm. What is it 2010? Good on em.

— Fulton Reed (@FultonReed6) May 28, 2022

I love the unlooked-for-heroes aspect of the NHL playoffs.
JT Compher (twice) & Darren Helm.
Just as we expected.

— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) May 28, 2022

Helm signed with the Avalanche ahead of the 2021-22 season after 14 years with the Detroit Red Wings. He tallied seven goals and eight assists in 68 games during the regular season. He entered Friday's game with just one assist in nine playoff games. 

While it's certainly a great site to see Helm put one on the board, the Avalanche will need their big guns, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar, to name a few, to step up in the Western Conference Finals as the Edmonton Oilers are no slouch. 

Nathan MacKinnon had himself an incredible Wednesday night. His teammates, well...not so much.

The Colorado Avalanche blew two separate leads, wasted MacKinnon's hat trick and threw away a chance to end their second-round series against the St. Louis Blues, losing Game 5 in overtime, 5-4.

Tyler Bozak was the man of the hour for the Blues, scoring the game-winning goal in the extra period.

Tyler Bozak (@Bozie42) is the OT hero in a phenomenal @StLouisBlues comeback victory to force Game 6! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/jpTcBsFHGM

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2022

Hockey fans, meanwhile, let the Avalanche hear it after they let this one slip away:

Avs sat back again, when that’s not their game. That probably falls on Bednar was going conservative. Also, on Darcy Kuemper, who can’t make one clutch save tonight

— Adrian Dater (@adater) May 26, 2022

The fact that MacKinnon goal was wasted is sickening

— Super Nintendo Chalmers (@NovaScotiaAvs) May 26, 2022

I don’t know how you waste that MacKinnon goal with more laid back hockey. I really don’t.

— Hockey Mountain High Podcast (@HockeyMTNPod) May 26, 2022

We just need ONE key save. That's all it was. My goodness.... #STLvsCOL

— SplitTheCheck (@ahh_nuts) May 26, 2022

That was one of the most embarrassing losses I’ve seen in a long time. Credit to the blues, but it’s trash to watch this team beat itself. I don’t get it.

— Chris Zoeller (@5280Avs) May 26, 2022

Wasted a hat-trick from your franchise player - don’t know what hockey we played from 10mins in the 3rd and on but that wasn’t us.

— 2022 Cup Champs (@AvsNewEra) May 26, 2022

Holy…

the Avs really just lost a game that they were up 3-0, at home, in a close out game, in the 2nd round…

Yea that’s a worst case scenario.

— Zach Bye (@byesline) May 26, 2022

When you play not to lose, as the Avs did in the 3rd, you usually lose.

— Collin (@packalanche) May 26, 2022

The Avalanche had every opportunity to win both this game and series. They held a 3-0 lead early in the second period, with MacKinnon—who hadn't scored a goal in the first four games of the series—finding the back of the net twice in the first period alone.

Nathan MacKinnon came to play tonight. #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/2idhShV814
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/sPd1WgYu7W pic.twitter.com/ujnybAJtKH

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2022

Nathan MacKinnon x2. #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/2idhShV814
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/sPd1WgYu7W pic.twitter.com/mUqRxrYIIV

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2022

But goals from Vladimir Tarasenko, Robert Thomas and Justin Faulk erased that lead. 

No matter—MacKinnon responded by scoring one of the goals of the playoffs in the third period after St. Louis to once again give Colorado the lead.

NATHAN #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BocrNo1NnB

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 26, 2022

Goal of the year!!
MacKinnon!!

— Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv) May 26, 2022

Holy crap I cannot believe what Nathan MacKinnon just did

— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) May 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1529652467377623040

That was one of the filthiest goals I've ever seen 🤯#GoAvsGo

— Quentin Sickafoose (@QSickafoose) May 26, 2022

But yet again, the Blues had an answer, as Thomas scored his second goal of the night with just 56 seconds remaining to push the game into overtime.

Game tied yet again — OT hockey is on its way! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/2idhShV814
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/sPd1WgYu7W pic.twitter.com/x6Gjf4BsgE

— NHL (@NHL) May 26, 2022

From there, Bozac silenced a stunned Colorado crowd and guaranteed at least one more game in this series. 

"You sulk for three minutes, and you move on," Gabriel Landeskog told reporters about how the Avalanche would respond to the soul-crushing loss. "It's playoff hockey. It's not supposed to be easy."

No, it isn't, but plenty of Avalanche players will be licking their wounds after that loss, including goalie Darcy Kuemper, who gave up five goals on 30 shots. The Avs will need him, and the rest of the roster not named MacKinnon, to brush themselves off before the series returns to St. Louis for Friday's Game 6 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.