The Colorado Avalanche will try to remain dominant when they host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Second Round at Ball Arena on Wednesday.
After winning the Presidents' Trophy by finishing first in the NHL in the regular season, the Avalanche swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round and won Game 1 against the Golden Knights.
Each win has come by at least three goals; Colorado has outscored its opponents 27-8, including 7-1 in Game 1 of this series, and is the first team to open the playoffs with five straight wins by at least three goals since the New York Rangers opened with six straight such wins in 1994.
The Avalanche can become the third Presidents' Trophy winners to open the playoffs with a streak of at least six wins since the trophy was first awarded in 1985-86, joining the Rangers, who opened with seven straight wins in 1994, and Dallas Stars, who opened with six straight in 1999.
They can tie the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for a winning streak at any point in the playoffs. Colorado has won five straight twice before, in 1996 and 1999, but never six straight since the franchise moved to Denver in 1995. The Nordiques won six straight in 1987.
Colorado has gone 14-1 in best-of-7 series after taking a 2-0 lead since the move.
"You want to get out and playing your game, play to our identity right away," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "Last game, that meant skating, relentless puck pursuit. It has to be the same here tonight, because we know we're going to get their best game."
Here are 3 Keys for Game 2:
