Fresh off another blowout win against the Nashville Predators in Game 3, the Colorado Avalanche have taken a commanding 3-0 lead. With all-around great performances from Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, Mikko Rantanen, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard, the Avs decimated the Preds and could not be stopped.
Even after losing star goalie Darcy Kuemper to an eye injury early in the game, the Avalanche were still able to keep their composure and beat the Predators handily on Saturday afternoon. With all this going for Colorado, we'll now discuss three reasons why they're the undisputed Stanley Cup favorites.
3 Reasons Avalanche Are Stanley Cup Favorites
3. Colorado has been an elite scoring team all series long
Through their first three games against the Predators, the Avalanche have put on a masterful scoring clinic.
Having scored an NHL record 16 goals in three games, the Avalanche have absolutely destroyed the Predators on offense. From pounding the glass to create more scoring opportunities to winning the majority of their face-offs and getting off an endless amount of shots on goal, the Avs have been lighting up the scoreboard.
Their dynamic passing and killer puck movement have both been major factors behind this as well. The multi-skilled playmaking and scoring abilities of Landeskog, Makar, Kadri, Rantanen, Toews, Girard and Artturi Lehkonen have overwhelmed the Preds and put them on the brink of elimination heading into a pivotal Game 4 on Monday night.
2. The Avalanche have had stellar goaltending against the Predators
Although he was forced to leave Game 3 early on after getting hit in the eye with a stick, Darcy Kuemper's played phenomenally during the 2022 NHL playoffs. With just four goals allowed and a save rate of 93.4 percent, Kuemper has been as efficient as ever in the net. His quick hands and unmatched attention to detail have allowed him to completely shut down the Predators' offensive attack.
Although the Avalanche were able to power through in his absence for the latter half of Game 3, his presence will be vital for them as the postseason wears on.
In their continued pursuit of a Stanley Cup, Kuemper's presence on the ice will be of utter importance to Colorado. On the flip side, they were able to thrive all the same with Pavel Francouz as their goaltender. With Francouz in the net, the Avalanche still doled out a massive 7-3 beating to the Predators in their own house.
1. They are the only undefeated team in the first round of the playoffs
After another thrashing of the Predators in Game 3, the Avalanche are starting to look like the team beat in the NHL. With a commanding 3-0 lead over Nashville, Colorado now looks like the class of the Western Conference and the frontrunner to hoist the 2022 Stanley Cup championship.
It's still early in the playoffs and there's a lot of hockey left to be played, but the Avalanche have to put on a dominant display of two-way team hockey that's been absolutely smothering in the first round of the NHL postseason. If they manage to keep up with this level of consistently good play, then the sky's the limit for what they can accomplish in the upcoming rounds. Not to mention they're the only team that's yet to lose in the first round so far.
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