Francouz, Avalanche shut out Oilers in Game 2 of Western Final
Makes 24 saves in place of injured Kuemper, helps Colorado extend series lead
By
Ryan Boulding
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Francouz started for the second time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after Darcy Kuemper sustained an upper-body injury during an 8-6 win in Game 1 on Tuesday. Francouz also started Game 4 of the first round against the Nashville Predators on May 9, when Kuemper was out with an eye injury. Colorado won 5-3 to complete a sweep.
"I think I found out [I was starting] yesterday for sure," Francouz said. "I was kind of thinking that I'm going to play, already after the other game. But they told me I'm going to start [Wednesday] afternoon. "You were a little nervous and you have it in the back of your mind. It's a really important game.
"But what helped me was the way our team played tonight since [the] first seconds. I knew [they'd] help me a lot. That made me more calm and I could just focus on my play."
Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist, and Nazem Kadri had three assists for the Avalanche, who are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
"That's the line that got us started and kept it going in the second period, the Kadri line," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "He's a big part of that. They were making plays in the second period. They capitalized] on a couple of chances, and they're the ones who built this lead."
Mike Smith made 36 saves for the Oilers, the No. 2 seed in the Pacific Division.
Game 3 of the best-of-7 series will be in Edmonton on Saturday.
"They found a way to break through. We didn't," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. "They've got good players, they've got good [defensemen]. We haven't had a ton of chances off the rush. We've got to find a way to create off the forecheck and off [offensive zone] play. They do a lot of good things, and we've got to find a way to figure them out."
[RELATED: [Complete Avalanche vs. Oilers series coverage]
Colorado scored three goals in 2:04 during the second period.
Lehkonen made it 1-0 at 3:58 with a wrist shot from above the left face-off circle, and Josh Manson scored 15 seconds later near the top of the right circle at 4:13 to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead.
Manson was minus-4 in 14:24 of ice time Tuesday.
"I was just happy. I needed a little bounce-back game from [Game 1], and it was nice to see that one go in," Manson said.
Rantanen scored on a 2-on-1 with Kadri at 6:02 to make it 3-0.
Kadri scored in Game 1 and has four points in the series.
"I'm playing with some great players; it's not all me," Kadri said. "'Lehky' did a great job finding me a couple times. Mikko, I don't really have to say anything about him. He's an incredible player.
"We all know playoff hockey; once it gets to four or two teams, that's going to be a difference maker for sure. Everyone contributes, and it's definitely tough to keep up with."
Nathan MacKinnon scored on a one-timer from the left circle during a power play at 15:20 of the third period for the 4-0 final.
The Oilers were outshot 26-11 over the last two periods.
"I thought it was a really competitive first period. I thought we laid it on the line, especially finding ourselves down, shorthanded," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. "I thought we pushed back, we generated some offense, [but] that little span in the second period really hurt us, took the wind out of our sails. We weren't able to generate."
NOTES: Kuemper is day to day. … It was Francouz's second career postseason shutout; he made 27 saves in a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Aug. 5, 2020. … Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto left the game in the second period because of an upper-body injury. There was no further update. … Edmonton was shut out for the second time this postseason (4-0 loss at the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of the first round on May 8). … Kadri tied the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for most assists in a playoff period (Quebec defenseman Risto Siltanen in Game 5 of the 1987 Division Semifinals, and Colorado center Joe Sakic in Game 2 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Final). … MacKinnon had a playoff career-high 11 shots, the second-most by any player this postseason. Makar had 12 shots against the Predators in Game 2 of the first round.
