Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen both scored goals for the fourth-consecutive playoff game in Colorado’s 5-1 victory over Winnipeg.
DENVER — Colorado’s big-name players are making big-time plays.
The Avalanche were once again powered by their stars in a 5-1 win Sunday at Ball Arena.
The Game 4 victory gives Colorado a stranglehold in the opening-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets, up 3-1, now one win away from advancing to the next round of the NHL postseason.
Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen continue to provide firepower for Colorado’s offense. Both scored (Nichushkin three times) Sunday to give them at least one goal in each matchup. The duo become the third and fourth players, respectively, in franchise history to begin the playoffs with such a streak.
Star defenseman Cale Makar also had a show-stopping, unassisted goal in the second period that spanned the length of the ice from Colorado’s net, past four Jets defenders, and over the right shoulder of Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Colorado has exploded for 22 goals so far this series, all but three (empty net) against Hellebuyck.
The Avalanche’s offensive onslaught led Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness to pull Hellebuyck for backup Laurent Brossoit at the start of the third period.
Defensively, Colorado was anchored by Alexandar Georgiev, who has been impressive in net since giving up seven goals in Game 1. In the three following games, Georgiev has saved 75 of the 80 shots he’s faced.
The series next shifts back to Winnipeg for Game 5, where Colorado can close out the series with a win. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (MT) Tuesday at Canada Life Centre.
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