'I'm confident that we can be better': Avalanche expect tougher Game 2 vs Stars
The Avalanche know that Game 2 will be a more difficult battle with the Dallas Stars than Game 1.
The Colorado Avalanche's Game 1 overtime win was not their best showing and they know it. They faced a fatigued Dallas Stars team and head coach Jared Bednar said there were things they could do better.
"There's aspects of our game we definitely have to be better at going into Game 2. We know that we're going to see Dallas's best here tonight — second game at home, they'll be much better. I'm confident that we can be better than what we were the other night. So that's our focus," Bednar said after morning skate on Thursday. "I like our guys feeling good about our game even though it wasn't perfect. I think they got a clear understanding we need to be better in certain areas, but they can feel good about it. They worked hard. They were highly competitive. They stuck with it. They're resilient. You still have to turn the page and let it go and go try and better that performance tonight and that's all we usually focus on."
The Avs staged a tremendous effort in the 4-3 overtime comeback win but pinpointed some things they could improve upon for Game 2.
"Their D (defense) is really active in the rush. Our forwards, we can do a little bit better job covering in the rush and then the covering for our D and try to not give too many odd-man rushes," Mikko Rantanen said. "They had some, couple there that Georgie (Alexandar Georgiev) made some good saves or got blocked or missed the net, but it's probably one thing we have to be careful because they have a lot of activity."
Georgiev has improved his game over the course of the playoffs, but the Stars are dangerous around the net and Bednar said his team needs to up their forechecking game to reduce those scoring chances.
Projected lineup
Forward Joel Kiviranta was in a regular jersey at morning skate but Bednar said he will be a game time decision.
Valeri Nichushkin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Artturi Lehkonen — Casey Mittelstadt — Zach Parise
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Chris Wagner
Brandon Duhaime — Yakov Trenin — Andrew Cogliano
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Jack Johnson — Sean Walker
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:52 p.m. MT at American Airlines Center.