A losing team can often be determined by how it celebrates a victory. Teams that haven’t been there before tend to get caught up in irrational exuberance before it’s time to truly get excited.
Was that a difference in the Avalanche’s first-round playoff series victory over the Minnesota Wild?
Adam Foote, winner of two Stanley Cups, didn’t say anything negative about the Wild after his team’s 2-1 series- clinching victory Saturday night. But he believed his team’s composure and experience paid off big.
“It’s quiet in here. It’s a good group that’s fun to be a part of, because everybody’s focused and stays on an even level,” Foote said. “That’s the way you have to be in the playoffs, because there’s going to be highs and lows, but you just have to stay poised.”
The Avs must wait for the other first-round Western Conference series to end before knowing their next opponent. Colorado will play the Detroit Red Wings or Dallas Stars in the second round.
Discipline was a factor in the series against Minnesota. The Avs had it throughout, but the Wild seemed to lose it, starting in Game 4.
Minnesota took 101 minutes in penalties in a 5-1 loss, then committed some costly penalties in the final two games. In Game 5, Sean Hill’s interference penalty gave the Avs a power play, which they converted to break a 1-1 third-period tie. In Game 6, Aaron Voros took a foolish interference penalty against Wojtek Wolski late in the first period, and Kim Johnsson blew up at the referees after a third-period holding violation.
Excluding the chippy Game 4, the Avalanche took just three third-period penalties in the series.
The Avs tied one game (Game 2) and took the lead in another (Game 5) after third-period Wild penalties. And after losing in overtime at home in Game 3 to go down 2-1 in the series, the Avs maintained the same locker-room calm that was evident after subsequent victories.
“Guys didn’t panic when we got down,” Avs goalie Jose Theodore said. “There’s so much experience in this locker room, and it made a difference for us.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
