Tyson Barrie dubbed it the biggest game of the year. Teammate Mikko Rantanen concurred.
And said the Avalanche’s power play in Thursday’s Game 4 against the San Jose Sharks will play a big role if Colorado is to tie the Western Conference series 2-2.
“We must have our best game of the year tonight, by far, because it’s the greatest match of the year, no question,” Barrie said after the morning skate at Pepsi Center. “We all know that. It shouldn’t be an issue getting up for tonight. ”
The Avs’ power play is scoreless in the last two matches and 1-of-9 from the sequence. Barrie, who runs the No. 1 unit from the stage, said the situation calls for more shots and lurking for rebound opportunities.
“It’s enormous. It can be a turning point in the game. It s going to be important for us to create momentum ” Barrie said. “We’ve been good at bouncing back all year when we’ve had lulls on the power play. It should be no different tonight. We just need to be shooting when we have the lanes. Not passing them up and moving the shooting lanes are quick, moving our feet quick, established by the puck and bombing them. ”
Rantanen is the winger on the power play and says the Sharks’ pressure has been the problem in the reason why the Avs are having trouble. The Sharks typically defend by attacking the puck-carrier.
“It’s about finding a way. They like to stress a lot, so we have to make crisp passes,” Rantanen said. “I think we were match. They wish to pressure so we must find a way to manage it and probably shoot more. ”
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San Jose has won its last two road games, including Game 7 at its series at Vegas. The Sharks snapped Colorado’s eight-game winning streak at home in Game 3 Tuesday.
“You don’t need to go down 3-1 (then) back to San Jose. It s a big one,” Rantanen said. “We were not happy how we played with last game. ”
Footnote. Avs forward Matt Calvert is listed as questionable with an upper-body accident that prevented him from playing in Game 3. Calvert practiced Wednesday and engaged in the morning but coach Jared Bednar said he’ll be a game-time choice. If Calvert plays, Sven Andrighetto will be scraped. Colorado will stick with the same lineup.
#Avs coach Jared Bednar general thoughts after AM skate. Game 4 tonight vs #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/M0o0NkEhUK
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) May 2, 2019
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