There was no self-pity originating from Dallas Stars coach Rick Bowness after his group lost Game 6 to the Colorado Avalanche and wasted a 3-1 series lead.
” We put ourselves in this position. Hey, were in Game 7. Deal with it. Weve just got ta make it a harder night for that whole team over there,” he stated after the 4-1 loss to the Avalanche on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Alberta.
After defenseman Miro Heiskanen opened the scoring for the Stars in the first period, the Avalanche scored the next 4 objectives and carried the play for the second straight video game. Third-string goalie Michael Hutchinson made 27 conserves for his second win in the series, as an injury-riddled Colorado team surged back to force Friday nights semifinal finale.
And hes a simple guy to cheer for. Game 7,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
Hey, were in Game 7. Video game 7,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
Whether they score or not, their finest players are on the ice a lot and theyre getting into the game and providing their group momentum.”
They lost Game 6 by a 4-1 rating. They lost Game 7 in double overtime.
In Game 5, the Stars were undone by a horrific first duration that saw Colorado score five objectives. In Game 6, Dallas could not get on track thanks to 4 consecutive penalty contacts the very first 2 durations.
” Its not ideal,” Bowness stated. “We have a lot of essential guys sitting on the bench. We shot ourselves in the foot with the penalties. Whether they score or not, their best players are on the ice a lot and theyre entering the game and providing their group momentum.”
Bednar praised his groups ability to avoid of the box.
” We had simply one charge kill tonight and it was unintentional. Much more disciplined on the retaliation-type things and more intelligent on how we handled their physicality,” he stated.
The top line came through for the Avalanche.
Nathan MacKinnon set up Mikko Rantanens crucial goal to start the 3rd duration for a 3-1 lead and after that scored his ninth of the playoffs into an empty internet. Rantanen also set up the tiebreaking objective in the second period by Cale Makar.
The Stars leading line was silent.
Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alex Radulov didnt have a point in between them and created simply one shot on objective each. Seguin doesnt have a point in the past three video games. Radulov has just one help in that period.
Our leading gamers are not,” Bowness stated. Your top gamers have to carry you at this time of year.
Anton Khudobin made 20 saves for Dallas in the loss. He was because of have Game 5 of the series off, but starter Ben Bishops return from injury proved devastating, as he offered up four goals on 19 shots in 13:43 of ice time prior to he was pulled.
The Game 5 win jump-started the Avalanches rally in this series. When inquired about Bishops status for Game 7, Bowness stated hes “unsuited to play.”
The coach bristled when asked if Bishop was rushed back from injury rehabilitation for that Game 5 start, his very first considering that Aug. 13.
” It wasnt hurried,” he stated. “Listen, if youre trying to make a story out of it, its not a story. Its back-to-back games. Your No. 1 goaltender concerns you and says hes had 2 excellent practices, he feels great and its back-to-back, youre not going to state, No. He desires the ball. He wants to go in and he feels great. Its either him or a kid that hasnt played a minute in the NHL. Like, thats not even a story for me.
He wanted to go in. Hes one of the leading goaltenders in the league for the last five or six years … its not even a concern. If he says hes all set to go, hes ready to go.”
For Dallas, this is familiar area.
The Stars had a 3-2 series lead on the St. Louis Blues last postseason in the conference semifinals. They lost Game 6 by a 4-1 rating. They lost Game 7 in double overtime.
“Weve got a possibility to redeem ourselves. This is going to be a huge one,” Seguin said.
