The Colorado Avalanche Prepare for Western Conference Finals
The Colorado Avalanche returned to the rink on Saturday after a refreshing two-day respite, gearing up for their impending clash with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals. However, not all players were on the ice—defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns were absent, along with forward Artturi Lehkonen. Defenseman Josh Manson made an appearance for a warm-up session before retreating to the locker room, while Sam Malinski participated in practice wearing a red no-contact jersey.
Injury Management and Recovery
Having successfully progressed past the Minnesota Wild in the second round, the Avalanche are currently managing some injuries. This break, extending over six days, offers a much-needed opportunity for recovery before they hit the ice against Vegas on Wednesday night.
“They’re all dealing with stuff in their day-to-day,”
noted Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar regarding Makar, Burns, Manson, and Lehkonen, although he expressed optimism about their potential return to practice soon.
Both Lehkonen and Malinski are battling upper-body injuries, having missed the final two games of the Minnesota series. Manson is also dealing with such an ailment, while Makar, a finalist for the Norris Trophy, left the ice late in Game 5 after a collision but returned to help secure the Avalanche’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory. Burns, at 41 years of age, adds experience but also comes with challenges associated with age.
Team Dynamics and Mental Preparation
Forward Jack Drury reflected on the benefits of the pause, stating it provides time for injured teammates to recover while allowing the rest to mentally recharge for the playoffs. The Avalanche’s practice session was informal and centered on skating and shooting rather than a deep tactical breakdown, with forward Martin Necas commenting that more strategic preparations would take place in the days leading to the game.
Playoff History and Upcoming Challenges
The backdrop to this matchup includes a recent playoff history where the Golden Knights bested the Avalanche in the second round of the 2021 playoffs, overcoming a 2-0 deficit and winning four consecutive games. Since then, Vegas has welcomed a new head coach, John Tortorella, and retained several key players from their Stanley Cup-winning team, including star forward Mitch Marner, who has emerged as a significant contributor during this postseason with 18 points.
Despite their challenges, including injuries to captain Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, the Knights have shown resilience, ending the regular season strong and performing well under Tortorella’s new leadership. They come into this series with momentum, having eliminated the Utah team in the first round and the Anaheim Ducks in the second, each time winning in six games.
Looking Ahead
The Avalanche, fresh off a dominant series against the Los Angeles Kings and a solid victory over Minnesota with contributions from 16 different players, feel prepared to adapt to whatever style of play is required in this upcoming series.
“We want to dominate the game so they have to adjust to us,”
stated Necas, looking forward to this significant challenge.
