Avalanche off to Cup Final for 1st time since 2001

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Colorado Avalanche swept Edmonton from the Western Convention finals in Recreation 4 on Monday, topping the Oilers 6-5 in time beyond regulation to win the best-of-seven sequence 4-0.

Colorado advances now to the Stanley Cup Remaining, the place they will face the winner of the Jap Convention finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers. New York leads that sequence 2-1. It’s going to be the Avalanche’s first look within the remaining spherical since 2001.

Edmonton had its alternatives to remain alive in Recreation 4, squandering two multigoal leads. The Oilers have been forward 4-2 halfway by way of the third interval, solely to permit three straight to the attacking Avalanche. Zack Kassian tied the sport 5-5 late in regulation to pressure time beyond regulation, the place Artturi Lehkonen ended Edmonton’s hopes of an eventual Cup Remaining bid with the game-winning objective.

It was Colorado that struck first off a power-play objective by Cale Makar. That was Makar’s fifth objective of the postseason, and his first of 5 factors in Recreation 4.

The sport remained 1-0 till midway by way of the second. Edmonton was being outshot 21-12 at that time, as goaltender Mike Smith as soon as once more stored the Oilers within the sport early.

Zach Hyman lastly capitalized throughout a powerful push by the Oilers in Colorado’s finish, beating Colorado netminder Pavel Francouz to present Edmonton some life.

The Oilers scored two rapidly after that, first when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pounced on a Colorado turnover after which with Connor McDavid’s power-play marker.

Leon Draisaitl assisted on the McDavid objective, regardless of showing to endure an damage earlier within the second. The Oilers high liner hasn’t been practically 100% wholesome within the postseason, and he labored to the bench in agony following successful late within the second interval. Draisaitl refused to depart the sport, although, and barely missed a shift earlier than including the helper on McDavid’s objective. And he wasn’t executed there.

Draisaitl generated one other help on Hyman’s second objective, this one within the third interval. Edmonton had began that body forward 3-1, till Devon Toews scored 31 seconds in to make it 3-2. The Oilers hung in, and Draisaitl fed Hyman to hurriedly restore Edmonton’s two-goal lead.

Colorado was down 4-2 however would not be for lengthy. Halfway by way of the third, Smith’s clearing try hit a referee and stayed within the Oilers’ zone to arrange a quick rating by Gabriel Landeskog.

Then, after one other unsuccessful Oilers energy play, Nathan MacKinnon jumped into the play and fired the game-tying objective previous Smith to make it 4-4 with six minutes to play in regulation.

Mikko Rantanen had Colorado up 5-4 with a power-play objective proper after. Edmonton responded with McDavid and Draisaitl combining to tee up Kassian’s game-tying objective after that. Draisaitl completed with 4 factors, and McDavid with three.

Lehkonen wanted simply 1:19 within the further body to attain the sport winner, capping his three-point night time.

The Avalanche have performed for the Cup twice of their franchise historical past, successful each sequence. In 1996, they defeated the Florida Panthers. In 2001, they outlasted the New Jersey Devils.