Florida Panthers center Kevin Stenlund (82) skates with the puck during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs second round series on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63). In Sunrise, Florida (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand wasn't too furious about the controversial hits that sidelined him in the past two games. That's because, in his opinion, players are bound to get injured in the postseason.
“The more guys you beat, the better your team is,” Marchand said Thursday, on the eve of Game 6 against Florida, where the Bruins will try to avoid playoff elimination. game. So every time you step on the ice, someone is trying to hurt someone. That's how it goes in the playoffs.”
Marchand, who has been sidelined since being staggered by a blow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the first period of Game 3, could return to action on Friday. Bennett, who was not penalized for the play, denies intentionally hitting Marchand.
Asked if he thought it was a cheap shot, Marchand said, “I think he got away with one shot, but I mean, it's part of the game, it's definitely part of playoff hockey.” .
“It sucks being on the other side, but things like that happen,” Marchand added, with his team trailing 3-2. “I'm not going to sit here and complain. … Part of the playoffs is sometimes you try to hurt all the players on the other team.”
Like Boston, Colorado returns home Friday with a chance to avoid elimination against Dallas.Nathan McKinnon, Cale Makar and the Avalanche Gathered to grab it They took the lead in the third period Wednesday and relied on great play from goaltender Alexander Georgiev to cruise to a 5-3 victory. It was the Avalanche's first lead in the series other than Miles Wood's overtime win to end Game 1.
“It was great,” McKinnon said simply of the play from up front as the Avalanche pulled within 3-2 in the series. “It was do-or-die, and I couldn’t lay eggs again.”
The Avalanche are trying to make team history. That's because they have never won a series where they lost 3-1. Under those circumstances, they are 0-5 and have only sent the series to a decisive Game 7 once. It was against Dallas in the second round of 2020. This was also a unique situation as the game was played inside a bubble in Canada during a season affected by the pandemic.
“This (Wednesday's game) was our first full 60 game in this series,” McKinnon said. “If we can keep doing that, I think we have a chance.”
Colorado's victory guaranteed all four series in the second round to be played at least six games. According to league research, such a balance in the second round has only occurred five other times in NHL history. The last time was in 2017.
The Avalanche were stunned Wednesday by the news that Valeri Nichushkin, the team's leading playoff scorer with nine goals, has been suspended for six months without pay as she enters the third stage of the league's player assistance program. We regrouped. The team learned this just before losing 5-1 to the Stars on Monday.
By taking time to process and move on, the Avalanche are now closer to the version that won a Stanley Cup title in 2022.
“You're playing frantic hockey right now,” said Makar, who scored two goals Wednesday. “Everyone has to play on the edge.”
The Avalanche had the league's best record at home during the regular season, but lost two straight on home ice in the Dallas series.
In Game 5, Colorado coach Jared Bednar split up the talented tandem of MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. McKinnon played with his close friends Jonathan Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen, while Rantanen was often paired with Zach Parise and Casey Mittelstadt. Both lines passed.
“At some point, you might have to change things up to get a spark,” Bednar said.
The Stars missed a chance to clinch and get extra rest.
“We're not trying to end the game to get more rest,” said Stars forward Joe Pavelski, who scored his first goal of the 2024 playoffs on Wednesday. , but we'll get through it. ”
Florida vs. Boston, Panthers lead 3-2, 7pm EDT (TNT)
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery hopes the extra day between games will give his players more energy.
Fans too. But please be patient.
“When the fans start booing, it affects the players. That's what it is,” Montgomery said. “It's not for lack of effort. The players aren't trying to win. They are. Sometimes you have to be patient. … It's easier to be patient on the road. At 1-0. You can still play the game even if you lose. Those things are taken into account.”
Dallas vs. Colorado, Stars lead 3-2, 10pm EDT (TNT)
The Stars currently lead 3-2 and are 20-3 overall in the best-of-seven series.
“The fourth (win) is always the hardest,” Dallas forward Jason Robertson said.
Colorado scored two goals on the power play Wednesday and got better on special teams. The Avalanche are 0-for-8 in their past three games.
“It's about having a different mentality, an aggressive mentality and not trying to back down or trying to find the perfect play,” Makar explained.
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexander Georgiev (40 years old), center Nathan MacKinnon (29 years old) and defenseman Devon Toews (7 years old) participate in the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup 2nd Round on Wednesday, May 15th. Reacts after defeating the Dallas Stars 5-3 in Game 5 of the Round's playoff series. , 2024, Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche skate on the bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period of Game 5 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Second Round Playoff Series on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Dallas. Center Nathan MacKinnon (29 years old). The Avalanche won 5-3. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar (left) reacts during the third period of Game 5 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Second Round Playoff Series vs. the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Dallas. . (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexander Georgiev, 40, plays during the third period of Game 5 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup second round playoff series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Dallas. Recorded a save. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy plays as the Bruins defeat the Florida Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs second round series on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. – Swayman (left) and Linus Ullmark celebrate (AP Photo/Wilfried Lee)
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman makes a save during the second period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs second round series against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfried Lee)
Boston Blue when Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart's (not shown) shot goes into the goal during the second period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs second round series on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Inns goaltender Jeremy Swayman looks back. In Sunrise, Florida (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, 9, hits Brad of the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Second Round Playoff Series on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Boston.・Check out Marchand (63 years old). (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
