Dater: Avs Just Not Working Hard Enough Right Now

Game 4 now a must-win

I mean, they played a reasonably good hockey game last night. Puck-possession time, shots on goal - the Avs had more against the Dallas Stars in Game 2. What they didn’t have enough of: a lunchpail mentality, passion, and willingness to go to the greasy areas around the net.

Final score: Stars 4, Avs 1. Game 4 Monday night at Ball Arena.

It was too much of a perimeter performance for the Avs, who were held to under three goals for the first time in the playoffs. While the Avs possessed the puck nearly 61% of the time in the game, according to Natual Stat Trick, there just weren’t enough high-danger chances, not enough getting to rebounds. Just…not…enough.