How can you tell the regular season is over?
Colorado is winning overtime games.
Without the threat of an overtime shootout – a one-one-one format that tormented the Avs’ most talented puck handlers all season – Colorado players say they may have an edge when the extra sessions begin.
“We probably do,” Colorado forward Milan Hejduk said. “The way we played with the shootouts this year, it can’t get any worse for us. This is probably better.”
“Especially against Dallas,” Hejduk added. “They were unbelievable in the shootout. So this is probably better for us.”
The numbers: Colorado won only three of nine regular-season games that were decided by shootouts. Dallas won 12 of 13.
In the postseason, Colorado has beaten Dallas twice in overtime.
While many fans adored the NHL’s new scheme to solve ties with individual moves, Colorado players now talk as if the shootouts became moments to dread.
That format was mothballed for the playoffs in favor of sudden-death hockey.
“No one’s happier about that than me,” said Joe Sakic, who was 0-for-7 in shootout out chances this season. Hejduk was only slightly better, at 1-for-7. Colorado’s most consistent shootout scorer, Marek Svatos (2-for-5), is injured and out for the season.
As a self-described “skating team,” the Avs say they know their scoring chances will come in the flow of play – as it did with Alex Tanguay’s goal 1 minute and 9 seconds into overtime.
There is no panic to score quickly in overtime as perhaps their was in the regular season – which went to a shootout after five minutes of skating.
But Colorado has another advantage in the extra sessions, said Dan Hinote. Overtimes don’t scare anyone in the Avalanche dressing room.
“It’s kind of the way it’s been all year for us,” Hinote said. “We always seemed to do pretty well when we’re down a goal or coming back. And that seems to build over a season. That’s not a switch.
“We’ve got the type of character or leaders in this room that their heart rate doesn’t raise 10 beats when it’s overtime.
“It’s a nice feeling in here. Looking around and knowing we’ve got guys in here who have won games in the past in overtime and they’re going to to do it again.”
One of the few discussions in a generally quiet locker room involved taking more shots on Dallas goalie Marty Turco. Colorado had 14 shots in the third period – one more than they had taken during the first two periods combined.
“We talked about how we have to put pucks on the net,” Hejduk said. “Turco, it looks like he didn’t look really comfortable. Even bad angle shots and wraparounds and stuff like that. That’s what we were talking about.”
Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com.
