The Colorado Avalanche came out a different team in the second period of Game 2, and that's the team that needs to come out of the gate in Game 3.

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche team that won Game 2 was different than the team that lost Game 1. So, what changed?

Artturi Lehkonen shifted up to the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Evan Rodrigues. Mikko Rantanen shifted to the second line with Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher. Bednar also shifted his defensive pairings putting Bowen Byram with Cale Makar and Devon Toews with Sam Girard.

While this isn’t the first time these players have played together on the same line, it made a difference Thursday night.

“Playing with two really good players, just trying to read off each other, get on the forecheck, play in the offensive zone,” Lehkonen said after the game.

If you’re wondering how those changes panned out, Lehkonen had a two-point game, Toews scored the game-winner and had an assist and Nichushkin scored a goal. Bonus, Byram and Makar assisted on Lehkonen's goal and Girard did on Toews' goal in the 3-2 win.

What was broken in Game 1 got fixed in Game 2

Head coach Jared Bednar said the team’s execution was not good after the Game 1 loss. What he meant by that was important for the team to adjust in order to come into Game 2 with a different focus.

“Execution is not just this pass or that pass, it’s open and you don’t see it. That could be a focus thing. Even though there were some areas, in that regard that were not good.

“Puck support, being predictable to ourselves so we can play fast and we were not very good in that area last night (Game 1),” Bednar said after practice on Wednesday between Games 1 and 2.

The lack of mental focus and chemistry rolled into the first period of Game 2. But then there was a shift, and it wasn’t in lines. The team came out of the first intermission like the first period never happened. They zeroed in on the next period of play and it showed.

“I think we were just trying to relax a little bit. You know, we came out a little tight and the belief in our room is always there and that’s something that drove us throughout the rest of the game,” Devon Toews said after Game 2. “Second and third periods, we finally got to our game and showed what we can do.”

Importance of faceoff wins

The Avs have had a slight advantage in faceoff wins in both games (56% in Game 1, 55% in Game 2), and that proved advantageous in the Game 2 win. Why was it not to their benefit in Game 1?

“You either start with possession or try to create a shot opportunity with the numerical advantage of the net, help you create scoring chances and find a rhythm to your game,” Bednar said after an optional practice on Friday morning.

Bednar said he shifts things around before and during the game depending on how his players are matching up against what the other team is forcing. In Game 2, several different forwards took faceoffs and many of them created those scoring chances.

If that same Colorado Avalanche team that showed up in the second period and won Game 2 can show up against a tough opposing crowd at Climate Pledge Arena, they can win the game. And not being at home wasn’t an issue during the regular season. The team was second in the league for most wins in an opposing arena with 29. So it hopefully won't be an issue in the postseason.