'Quest For The Stanley Cup' continues with Avalanche winning West

The Colorado Avalanche are going to the Stanley Cup Final five seasons after having the worst record in the NHL.

"Lots of our guys have been (here) longer than I have," says Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, whose first season was Colorado's last-place finish in 2016-17. "They're going to get a chance to play for the Stanley Cup] and hopefully put our best foot forward and win the thing."
The Avalanche's surprising sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final is detailed in the third episode of the seventh season of "Quest For The Stanley Cup."
The episode, which is available on
[ESPN+
in the United States and
YouTube/NHL
in Canada, shows the battle between the Avalanche and Oilers, as well as the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.
The episode follows Nazem Kadri as he tries to use his self-confidence to inspire his teammates.
"The No. 1 thing you need in order to advance is belief," the Avalanche forward says. "You have to have that swagger and that confidence that you can beat anyone. It helps the atmosphere in the dressing room. We're on our way to making a run."
Kadri helps that run with three assists in the Avalanche's 4-0 win in Game 2, but is knocked out of the series during Game 3 after a hit by Oilers forward Evander Kane.

Game 2 also saw Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz serenaded by chants of "Frankie! Frankie!" from fans at Ball Arena during Colorado's 4-0 win. It was his second start of these playoffs and his second career shutout.
"For sure you were a little nervous, you have it in the back of your mind it's a big game," Francouz says. "What helped me was the way the team played tonight. That made me more calm. It was a special night for sure, but it was better when they were shouting 'Go Avs Go.'"
In the East, the Rangers take a 2-0 series lead against the Lightning in part because of strong play from defenseman Jacob Trouba, who receives support from his wife, Kelly. She says she doesn't cook much, but her meals have brought Trouba and the Rangers good luck.
The Lightning win Games 3 and 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, where Trouba didn't have Kelly's meals to depend on.

There's also a lighter moment that captured a golf match between Oilers forward Ryan McLeod and defenseman Evan Bouchard taking on forwards Warren Foegele and Kailer Yamamoto during an off day before the series against the Avalanche started. McLeod and Bouchard rally from 3-down to win it on a playoff hole.
The Oilers, however, were unable to come back against the Avalanche. Without an injured Yamamoto and Kane, who was suspended for the hit on Kadri in Game 3, they took a 4-2 lead in the second period, but saw the Avalanche go ahead 5-4 late in the third period.
Zack Kassian's goal with 3:22 remaining in the third tied the game but at 1:19 of overtime, Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen knocked down Cale Makar's high shot and scored on a rebound to complete the sweep.
In the handshake line, Oilers assistant coach Glen Gulutzan had a message for Bednar.
"I hope you win the Cup my friend," he said. "I'm cheering for you."