So, OK then. Just when everybody was pricing weekend flights to Las Vegas, the Golden Knights blow a three-goal lead with half a period to play, then tie it in the final minute, then lose in OT to the San Jose Sharks.
That might have been the most amazing comeback I’ve ever seen. Or, the biggest choke I’ve ever seen.
Either way, the Avs will now play the Sharks in Round 2, with Game 1 happening Friday night at SAP Center. It is a house of horrors for the Avs, a place they almost never win. But hey, they hadn’t won much in Calgary over the years and look what happened.
This, believe it or not, is the fifth meeting between the teams in the postseason in the last 20 years. Each team has won twice. The Sharks have won the last two meetings, however, in 2004 and 2010.
Let’s take a quick look back at all four series:
1999 Western Quarterfinals
This was a very memorable series, for several reasons. For one, the series was moved to San Jose for the first two games, despite the Avs having earned home-ice advantage from the regular season. On the day before Game 1 was supposed to happen at McNichols Sports Arena, the tragedy at Columbine High School happened. The series didn’t start until four days after the shootings, April 24 in San Jose.
The Avs won the first two games there, and would get the next three games at home. The Sharks, though, won two of those three. They won Games 3 and 4 at Big Mac, then Sharks coach Darryl Sutter mysteriously decided to start Steve Shields for the rubber Game 5, instead of hot starter Mike Vernon. The Avs won Game 5 easily, then beat San Jose in Game 6 in overtime, 3-2, on a Milan Hejduk goal. Also in that Game 6, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale shook the building in San Jose.
2002 Western semifinals
The Avalanche were defending Stanley Cup champions, but were pushed to the brink by the Sharks. The Avs were down 3-2 in the series, with Game 6 at a roaring Shark Tank. But the Avs pulled out a 2-1 overtime win on a Peter Forsberg goal.
Game 7 would be won by the Avs 1-0, with Patrick Roy getting the shutout and Forsberg scoring the only goal. Sharks star Teemu Selanne missed an open net on a wraparound that would give the Sharks an early lead. Here it is. I still can’t believe this didn’t go in:
2004 Western semifinals
This was the season the Avs had Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, along with stars such as Forsberg and Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk and Rob Blake and Adam Foote. But it was also the first season the Avs had played without Patrick Roy, who retired the year before.
The Avs pulled out a first-round victory over Dallas, but Kariya was hurt (he would only play one playoff game, Game 6 against the Sharks) and the Avs just couldn’t score in this series. The Avs trailed 3-0 in the series before winning the next two, including a Game 5 in San Jose in which Sakic scored in OT to win it. But the Avs just didn’t have enough left in the tank for Game 6 and lost 3-1 at the Pepsi Center.
2010 Western quarterfinals
The Avs went into the series as heavy underdogs, but they pulled out Game 1 in San Jose, winning 2-1. They had a lead late in Game 2, but Craig Anderson gave up a goal and the game went to overtime before the Sharks won 6-5.
The Avs won Game 4 on a fluky goal credited to Ryan O’Reilly that was actually shot into his own net by Dan Boyle. That tied the series at two games apiece, but the Sharks outscored the Avs 10-2 in the two games from there to lose in six.
0 Comments (7 conversations)
teerav42
Fun fact, in the 2004 series Sakic had an OT winner in game 4 in addition to one in game 5! Good memories (until game 6 anyways).
Sunfunbun
That was one of the more unbelievable games I’ve ever seen. 4 quick PP goals by SJ in a 5 minute major is on Vegas, entirely, but that call should never have been made. It’s clear on the face off that Pavelski gets checked and loses his balance. The play was circumstance and not one where a major should have been called. The NHL just can’t let a team get jobbed like that.
'@AvsFTW
“The Avs won Game 4 on a fluky goal credited to Ryan O’Reilly that was actually shot into his own net by Dan Boyle”
OMG I forgot about that game but now I remember that play like it was yesterday! That was bizarre and I just remembered thinking, what a crazy way to win a playoff game?!
GWood
I wanted to play VGK this next round due to the head to head results for this season, but when you look at the Vegas power play, I’m okay with not having to face that. And Flurry can go to next level at any time.
So now its the Sharks. On the one hand, they could be without Pavelski, on the other hand, that gives them some emotional fuel. I’d rather have the former, but both are bad.
If the boys can keep hanging 3-5 goals a night, we’ll be okay.
NoMoreRats
The 2 wins versus Vegas were with Malcolm Subban in net. That surely would not have been the case if we’d met in the playoffs.
dudleyconrad
I was sitting in the corner for the Dan Boyle game, looking across the zone directly at that play. We had no idea what happened, except all of a sudden the puck was in the net. I just remember the look of shock/confusion/jubilation on everyone’s face.
This was the game where Andy had to make 60 saves or something. The shots were about 60-10, or felt like it. To say the ice was tilted is a gross understatement. Crazy, crazy game.
**I just looked it up. Shots were 51-17.**
Had chances to win Game 4 too, before we got Pavelski’d. Really could have won that series with a couple more bounces.
dudleyconrad
Here is the box score. Worth a look.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201004180COL.html
Colorado_Gary
I remember it because I heard the cheers for that “own goal” credited to O’Reilly while standing at a certain trough in the men’s room at the Pepsi Center! Beer! As for getting scored on late in game 2 at San Jose, I recall that Kyle Cumiskey gave the puck away at the blue line by failing to clear it inside the last minute. I never forgave him for that, not that it matters. TJ Galliardi was really rocking it that series and had the Sharks not won that game I think the Avs would have won that series.
Adrian Dater
AuthorNice stat grab. 51-17 in shots, wow. I remember it seemed like a victory if the Avs just touched the puck in that game. Somehow, they won.
Colorado_Gary
Another comment on the Avs since that Avs-Sharks series with the Dan Boyle “own goal”
There’s been a lot to deal with for us long-suffering Avs fans. Putting aside the Minny series lost in 7, think of all the suffering since then, including Stastny leading the Avs on then leaving for Saint Looie as he always intended, Peter Stastny ripping the Avs, Kyle Quincy’s remarks on his way out the door, the O’Reilly “character” saga with his Dad, Roy jumping ship, Sakic all but written off as a GM before the Duchene heist/cancer removal… Now with VGK out, the curse of the ex-Avs is diminished and come to think of it, the “Stastny Stalker” that used to troll the Denver Post Avs message boards when AD was there, has been banished to some corner of the internet that I don’t frequent (thankfully).
The Avs have come a long way since those days not long ago. Avs fans, soak it in. We are once again in the good times with a chance to win the Cup!
Chris
That Dan Boyle goal was actually in game 3, not game 4