It’s do-or-die time for the Avalanche tonight when the team takes on the Sharks in Game 7 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This is the 11th time that the Avs have faced a Game 7 since the franchise moved to Denver in 1995. In the previous 10 games, Colorado has gone 4-6, which includes a win over the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup in 2001. Here’s a look at those games:
May 4, 1998: Oilers 4, Avalanche 0 — first round
“Not even a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series with the Edmonton Oilers was enough for the Avalanche. … Hockey is a game of passion, and the Avs just didn’t have enough of it, Roy said.”
June 4, 1999: Stars 4, Avalanche 1 — third round
“In a game from which the winner advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, the record also will show it was the Dallas Stars who prevailed, 4-1 over the Avs at rocking Reunion Arena. ‘Was the season a success? No, we didn’t win the Stanley Cup,’ said Avs captain Joe Sakic.”
May 27, 2000: Stars 3, Avalanche 2 — third round
“Not only did the hockey gods see to it that Deadmarsh’s tip of a Ray Bourque shot hit the post with eight seconds left in the game, they allowed two Dallas goals that should be accompanied by the Who classic, ‘Pinball Wizard.’ So the Stars, not the Avs, were destiny’s darlings, as they broke Colorado’s heart for the second straight season in a seventh game.”
May 9, 2001: Avalanche 5, Kings 1 — second round
“In a game that might have sent a few Avs fans to the pharmacist for some heart medicine, Colorado beat the Kings 5-1 in the decisive game to advance to its fifth Western finals in six seasons.”
June 9, 2001: Avalanche 3, Devils 1 — Stanley Cup Final
“After 22 years of thirsting for one drink — just one — from the cherished silver chalice, Ray Bourque got it. Finally. Bourque and the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the Pepsi Center.”
April 29, 2002: Avalanche 4, Kings 0 — first round
“Three goals in 12 minutes, 24 seconds. No need to do the math. Game over. Series over. The Avalanche again prevailed in Game 7 against the Kings, winning 4-0 at the Pepsi Center.”
May 15, 2002: Avalanche 1, Sharks 0 — second round
“Goodbye, San Jose. We already know the way to Detroit. It took exactly 30 seconds for the first anti-Red Wings chant to echo through the halls of Pepsi Center on Wednesday night after the Colorado Avalanche posted a 1-0 win in a decisive Game 7 over the San Jose Sharks to reach the NHL’s Western Conference finals for the fourth consecutive year.”
May 31, 2002: Red Wings 7, Avalanche 0 — third round
“The temperature inside Joe Louis Arena on Friday night was in the low 90s to start Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Hot enough for a meltdown. What a meltdown it was for the Colorado Avalanche and goalie Patrick Roy.”
April 22, 2003: Wild 3, Avalanche 2, OT — first round
“For the Colorado Avalanche of 2002-03, it was death by penalty kill. The Avalanche’s one major weakness all season finally did it in Tuesday night, as poor penalty killing was the major factor in its 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the Pepsi Center.”
April 30, 2014: Wild 5, Avalanche 4, OT — first round
“The Avalanche’s remarkable season came to a crushing end Wednesday night in Game 7 of its first-round playoff series. The Minnesota Wild won 5-4 in overtime as the Avs were unable to maintain four one-goal leads.”
— , The Denver Post
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What’s on Tap?
- Rockies: San Francisco Giants, 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, ATTRM |
- Avalanche: At San Jose Sharks, 7 p.m. Wednesday |
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
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Scoreboard
NBA playoffs: Nuggets 124, Trail Blazers 98
Full story | | Photos
MLB: Giants 14, Rockies 4
Full story |
Must-Read
Kiszla: Nuggets coach Michael Malone can’t stick to sports when there’s deadly school shooting in his neighborhood
When the bloody reality of another deadly school shooting intruded on his basketball nirvana, Nuggets coach Michael Malone could no longer stick to sports. Read more…
Rockies Mailbag: Ian Desmond is hitting below the Mendoza Line and fans have taken notice
Desmond is hitting .186 with three home runs and 14 RBIs heading into Tuesday nightap game against the Giants. Over his last seven games, his slash line is .125/.263/.313. Read more…
Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders “feeling good” but not putting timetable on return from Achilles injury
The Broncos report for training camp in mid-July. Will veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders be on the field for the first practice? Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Nuggets coach to Highlands Ranch, STEM shooting survivors: “We’re with you.”
+ Nuggets star Nikola Jokic “the best big man in the league,” according to Will Barton
+ Will Gabe Landeskog’s game-winner spark Avalanche top line for Game 7?
+ Rockies reliever Bryan Shaw is acutely aware of his widespread critics — and he’s slowly silencing them
+ Backpass: Itap time to ask the Colorado Rapids for an open relationship. Six reasons to watch a bad team, win or lose
+ Analysis: Fate of Colorado Rapids GM could rest with not botching next coaching hire
+ Analysis: From Mel Tucker to Jim McElwain, which new college football coaches might succeed?
+ Kentucky Derby winner Country House won’t run in Preakness
Post Mailbag forms
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
By The Numbers
$485 million
NFL concussion fund pays out $485M, but more doctors sought
A claims administrator for the NFL concussion fund says it has paid out $485 million since its start in 2017. Read more…
Parting Shot
John Daly approved to use cart during PGA Championship at Bethpage Black
The PGA of America says Daly applied for the cart through its American with Disabilities Act policy and provided information for the medical staff to review. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
