The Avalanche’s offense struck like a hammer on Tuesday, tallying eight goals from seven different players in an 8-6 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers to take a 1-0 lead in the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Since Colorado arrived in Denver in 1995, the team has scored at least seven goals 10 times in the playoffs for a record of 10-0. When the Avs reach eight goals, they are 3-0.
Here’s a look at the Avs’ highest-scoring playoff games (updated June 1, 2022):
1T. 8 — June 6, 1996 vs. Panthers
If you want to win over a new fan base, this is a good start. In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Florida, the Avs walloped the Panthers, 8-1, to take a 2-0 series lead. Peter Forsberg led the way with a hat trick and Rene Corbet and Jon Klemm added two goals apiece.
1T. 8 — May 4, 2002 vs. Sharks
After losing Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Avs came out firing, scoring the first five goals of the game en route to an 8-2 victory at the Pepsi Center. Six different Colorado players scored, led by defenseman Rob Blake.
1T. 8 — May 31, 2022 vs. Oilers
Two of the NHL’s most-potent offenses kicked off their third-round series with a bang, combining for 14 goals and made the Ball Arena final scoreboard look like old-school Coors Field. Seven different Avs scored, led by a pair from J.T. Compher, to lift Colorado to an exciting, 8-6, win over the visiting Oilers in Game 1.
4T. 7 — April 24, 1997 vs. Blackhawks
Five power-play goals — including a PP hat trick from Valeri Kamensky led the Avs to the first-round win at the Pepsi Center. Adding insult to injury, Patrick Roy was a perfect in net, stopping 25 shots for the shutout.
4T. 7 — May 30, 1999 vs. Stars
The two teams combined for 12 total goals as Colorado edged Dallas, 7-5, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The game was tied at 5-apiece midway through the third period when Chris Drury scored — his second of the game — off of an assist from Joe Sakic. Peter Forsberg added an empty netter to clinch the victory.
4T. 7 — Aug. 17, 2020 vs. Coyotes
After scoring just two goals on 51 shots in Game 3, the Avalanche pounded Arizona, 7-1, on Monday to take a 3-1 first-round series lead. Nazem Kadri has two goals and an assist in the victory.
4T. 7 — Aug. 19, 2020 vs. Coyotes
Two days after crushing Arizona with seven goals, the Avs did it again in Game 5, beating the Coyotes 7-1 to win the series and advance to the second round. Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri each contributed with two goals.
4T. 7 — May 30, 2021 vs. Golden Knights
After sweeping the Blues in four games, the Avs kicked off their second-round series against Vegas in grand fashion, peppering the Knights, 7-1, in a chipping Game 1 at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon and Gabe Landeskog scored two goals apiece and Cale Makar had four points (a goal and three assists) in the victory.
4T. 7 — May 3, 2022 vs. Predators
Colorado kicked off the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a bang, cruising to a 7-2 Game 1 rout of the Blues at Ball Arena. The Avs had five first-period goals — tying a club record for goals in a postseason period. Cale Makar had three points in the first — a goal and two assists — to lead the way.
4T. 7 — May 7, 2022 vs. Predators
Just four days after pounding the Predators in Game 1, Colorado crushed Nashville, 7-3, at Bridgestone Arena in the first-round series. Captain Gabe Landeskog picked up a hat trick and Cale Makar added three assists.
11T. 6 — 25 times
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