SAN JOSE, Calif. — Since the franchise arrived in Denver for the 1995-96 season, the Avalanche has jumped out to a 2-0 lead in a playoff series 12 times.
This probably isn’t shocking: Colorado won all 12 of those series.
While this definitely is a different team — on several levels — than those in the franchise’s most successful days in Denver, that still gives a hint to what’s at stake tonight when the Avalanche faces the Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference first- round series at the HP Pavilion.
A victory tonight for the eighth-seeded Avalanche not only would put Colorado up 2-0 in the series, it almost certainly would escalate the tensions, frustrations and even the boos the Sharks are facing as they stumble at the outset of the postseason after coming in as the conference’s top seed.
“I think we’re excited,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said after his team’s 30-minute practice at the HP Pavilion on Thursday. “I think we feel good today about the game that we played last night, realizing that there’s still a long ways to go in the series.
“It’s important to get off to that good start, and it’s nice to get that first one under your belt. We had some good energy at our practice today. It was short, but I thought the energy level was pretty high.”
Sacco said he wasn’t concerned the Avalanche might subconsciously be willing to accept a split of the first two games before returning to Denver for Sunday night’s Game 3.
“We’re not looking at that,” Sacco said. “Obviously, Game 1 is over now, it’s a new game tomorrow night, and I’ve said all along it’s one game at a time and focus in on that. I’m sure that the guys will be ready to play tomorrow. We’re not looking at a split right now. We obviously want to go back home 2-0. San Jose’s going to try to say differently.”
Sacco acknowledged of the favored Sharks: “I’m sure they’ll make a strong push (tonight) at the start of the game. As long as we’re on our toes and making sure that when the puck drops we’re ready to play, and try to counter what they’re going to try to throw at us, we’re going to be fine.”
Footnotes.
Sacco wouldn’t commit to using the same lineup as Wednesday, but that seems likely. . . . Winger Peter Mueller continues to do light aerobic work off the ice back in Denver, but he still hasn’t skated after suffering a concussion against the Sharks on April 4. . . . The Sharks practiced Thursday at their practice facility near San Jose State University south of downtown. . . . As of Thursday afternoon, Sunday’s Game 3 in Denver was not sold out.
