What Avalanche did differently to win Games 1 and 5

Consistency has been an issue with the Colorado Avalanche in the second-round series against the Dallas Stars. Part of that is on the team's execution and part is on, what head coach Jared Bednar said, what Dallas has to say about it.

“I think a big one for us is our forecheck. When we're able to get on there D (defense) we're able to create turnovers and create time and space. Then we're able to get our D up and join and get the puck up top and try to spread them out a little bit. So our forecheck is big for us ..." Devon Toews said Thursday. "We've done a better job of breaking pucks out and then putting them deep and getting on the forecheck and making it a little more difficult on them. So it's just about consistently doing these things, that's what it comes down to."

Related: Avalanche win Game 5 vs Stars 5-3 to push Game 6 in Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Avs have been able to create offense in both of their wins which was possible because of their strong defensive play and forecheck.

"I don't think it's been lack of effort. I just think that last night, we seemed like we were a little bit more at ease in the series and focused on playing our game and kind of sticking with it regardless of time and score of the game," Bednar said. "You're at this point, you have nothing to lose and guys played with a little bit more confidence, [in] o-zone play — hanging on to pucks, making plays, and trying to get into the middle of the ice a little bit more and create and be more creative. It starts with our skating in the offensive zone and being able to hang on pucks and get your eyes up and make plays. And to me, that's the biggest difference from last night from say the previous two games."

The Avs have to win two in a row — one at home, one on the road — to move on to the Western Conference Final. If they get to their game early as they did in Game 5 and keep at it for the full 60 minutes, they can beat the Stars and advance.

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