Adrian Dater
Yes, what you thought you saw last night really did happen. Darren Helm really did score with 5.6 seconds left in regulation to put the Colorado Avalanche into the Western Conference finals. That not only broke an 0-3 streak the previous three years in the second round, it broke an overall streak of 0-6 in the second round, dating back to 2002 (Detroit 2008, Anaheim 2006, San Jose 2004).
Twenty years of frustration, gone with one swing of Helm’s stick. But, hey, the job’s only half done, right?
Let’s talk a little more about last night, specifically that save by Josh Manson in the second period of a 2-1 Blues lead, on Jordan Kyrou.
What would the odds have been for the Avs, down 3-1 late in the second period, to win the game? Probably about the same as it was for the Blues in Game 5 – about +5000.
Hey, Darcy Kuemper got faked out pretty good on that shot and pass, but Manson saved his bacon. As Kemps said, when asked what he said to Manson after that: “thank you.”
Manson has been so much better in the last month or more than he was right after being acquired from Anaheim. He’s exactly the kind of D-man the Avs needed, and Joe Sakic got him.
Now, he’s going to play against the team with an assistant coach who also happens to be his father. Here’s Terry Frei’s story from March about the two. Here’s also the story about how Dave Manson fought Paul MacDermid, father of Kurtis, back in the day.
Manson is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and, yeah, I’d probably already make an offer of an extension if I were the Avs. But, one thing at a time I guess.
OTHER THOUGHTS FOR OFF-DAY SATURDAY