We should’ve seen it coming. In the 14 regular-season contests in which winger Avalanche winger J.T. Compher found the web — he scored just 16 times, but few were cheapies — Colorado posted a stellar record of 10-1-3.

Fast forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs and there’s Compher, again, fastening a set of jumper cables to the Avs’ crime and cranking that engine like there’s no tomorrow. The Chicago native’s goal with 2:39 left in the third period of Game 2 forced overtime in Calgary; his target with 11:50 remaining in regulation in Game 4 cut against the Flames’ lead in half. Colorado won both contests, and the Avs are 5-1 over their last two playoff series in contests where Compher tallies at least a point.

“When our depth players play well, it gives us a much better chance to win,” Compher said Thursday before the Avs boarded their flight to Calgary for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series, taking a 3-1 lead back to Alberta after a 3-2 overtime win in the Pepsi Center late Wednesday. “And I think that shows, late in the game, it’s been line after line. Everybody ’s becoming involved with physicality, and we’re playing as a unit right now, which is generating a lot of offense for us. ”

Compher’s empty-net rebound goal in Game 2 in Calgary knotted the contest at 2-2, a game the Avs went on to take in overtime. The scrappy winger got the party started late Wednesday night. With the hosts trailing 2-0 in the Pepsi Center, Compher cleaned up the trash, as Flames goalie Mike Smith’s deflection of a Matt Calvert shot spun a loose puck from rsquo & the winger;s way left of the crease. As Smith went low and scrambled, Compher beat the shelf to get the Avs on the board. Teammate Mikko Rantanen would tie the score nine minutes later and eventually fire house the game-winner in overtime.

“Your top players are (matched up) every night against other teams’ top players, and you require depth of scoring,” trainer Jared Bednar said of the Avs, who find themselves a victory away from taking their first playoff series since 2008. “And you need depth of scoring. (It’s) not just big goals that he’s scored, but timely goals, goals to get us back.

“(He’s) getting to the internet, doing all the proper things. Very similar target (Wednesday) to the one he scored with the empty net in Calgary. ”

Compher already has as many postseason points (three) in four playoff appearances this month as he did in six first-round looks in 2018. And, like most of his teammates, he hasn’t appeared to be bothered by the big stage, having been used by Bednar on 22.5 shifts per game in this series compared to 17.7 per game during that first-round elimination by Nashville a year ago.

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“Why wouldn’t you? It’s a great group re playing for each other, & rdquo, playing well and having a lot of fun; Compher stated.

“We played that (last) month of hockey (like it) was essentially (playoff) hockey for us … so there’s no panic in our area. There’s a whole lot of belief that no matter the circumstance, we could go get that win. ”

In hindsight, Calgary should’ve seen it coming. Fortunately for the Avs, it might be too late.

Footnotes.  Defenseman Samuel Girard (upper body) skated Thursday morning and was a part of the group charter, Bednar said. The coach noted that Girard was “getting better” and stated he’d be evaluated early Friday and again just before the start of Game 5. … According to Hockey-Reference. Com, Rantanen and Nathan McKinnon would be the first Avs duo to both have games at precisely the playoff. … The Avs’ 2 postseason overtime wins are their most in one series since a set in 2014 throughout a loss to Minnesota. “Our belief system is powerful,” Bednar said.

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