Game 2 Recap: Avalanche Shut Out Oilers 4-0 in Game 2

Doubling up.
The Colorado Avalanche shut out the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday night in front of a sold out crowd at Ball Arena. Colorado leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.

Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, Mikko Rantanen (1G, 1A), Nathan MacKinnon (power play) scored. Nazem Kadri handed out three assists. Pavel Francouz made 24 saves in the shutout and in his first start of the series and first start since Game 4 of Colorado's First Round series against Nashville. Francouz took over the net as Darcy Kuemper left Game 1 in the second period with an upper-body injury. Francouz was backed up by Justus Annunen.
For Edmonton, Mike Smith made 36 saves on 40 shots in the loss.

REGULATION SUMMARY:

Both teams skated out to a 0-0 score following the first intermission. The Avalanche held the edge in shots at 15-13, but were unable to capitalize on three power plays - including a 5-on-3 opportunity - in the opening frame.
The Avalanche unleashed the offense in the second period with the three goals in the span of 2:04 and two goals in the span of 15 seconds.

Colorado drew its first strike at 3:58 as they capitalized on a turnover as Edmonton attempted a zone exit. With the puck in the slot, Kadri blasted a one timer and Lehkonen redirected the shot down past Smith for the game's icebreaker.
The Avalanche doubled their lead just 15 seconds later after the subsequent faceoff as Lehkonen made an excellent forechecking play along the boards to spring the puck loose. Kadri threaded a pass out to the top of the right faceoff circle for Manson, where he wound up and unloaded a low slap shot under Smith's glove at 4:13.
Rantanen extended the Avalanche's lead 3-0 at 6:02 on an odd-man rush. Kadri fed Rantanen on the backdoor where the Finnish winger squeezed in his shot and second goal in as many games.
After going 0-for-5 on their previous power plays, Colorado converted late in the third period to extend its lead 4-0 on a power-play strike from MacKinnon. Cale Makar drew the penalty as Edmonton's Evander Kane hit him high along the boards and went to the box for roughing at 14:27. On the Avs power play, Makar zipped the puck out to the left faceoff circle where MacKinnon ripped his shot past Smith for his team-leading 10th goal of the postseason and fifth on the power play.

IN NET:

Francouz made 24 saves in the shutout win and garnered an endearing song of, 'Frank-ie!' chants throughout the entirety of the game from the packed and energetic crowd at Ball Arena.

Francouz was dialed in from the get-go and came up with a strong first period where he made 13 saves to keep the clean sheet for his team heading into the second period. Francouz made timely saves and came up with solid second efforts on rebounds including back-to-back chances in the slot from Edmonton forward Jesse Puljujarvi with five minutes left in the first period.
After the Avalanche took a 3-0 lead in the second period, Francouz continued to come up with strong stops - seven saves - to keep the Oilers off the scoresheet. The Czech netminder faced two Edmonton power plays and denied them both. His biggest stop of the period was a poke check on Darnell Nurse crashing the net.
Francouz made five saves in the third period.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Artturi Lehkonen scored his fifth goal of the playoffs.
• Josh Manson scored his second goal of the postseason.
• Mikko Rantanen buried his third goal of the playoffs.
• MacKinnon scored his team-leading 10th goal of the postseason and fifth on the power play.
• Colorado finished the game 1-for-7 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
• Nicolas Aube-Kubel returned to the lineup in place of Andre Burakovksy.
• Nico Sturm, Ryan Murray, Kurtis MacDermid, Samuel Girard (upper body) and Darcy Kuemper (upper body) were scratches for Colorado.

NEXT GAME:

The Western Conference Final between the Avalanche and Oilers shifts to Edmonton with Game 3 on Saturday night at Rogers Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.