Joe Sakic downplays Avalanche finally getting past the second-round

The Colorado Avalanche finally beat the second-round boogeyman.

The Avs had lost in that round the last three years, all in heartbreaking fashion. In 2019 it was a bogus offsides call against Gabriel Landeskog versus the San Jose Sharks. In 2020 it was Game 7 overtime against the Stars. And in 2021 it was a collapse against Vegas with four straight losses.

But that’s all in the past after Colorado dispatched St. Louis in six games, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years in dramatic fashion.

The Avalanche will face the Edmonton Oilers beginning Tuesday night, and GM and franchise legend Joe Sakic met with the media on Monday to preview the series. Sakic was asked specifically about getting over the Round 2 hump, and gave a great and lengthy answer explaining why he doesn’t see it as a huge deal.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the second-round the last couple of years. We really don’t look at getting out of the second-round, that wasn’t the goal. All four teams that are going to be in the finals, we all have the same goal. We want to win the Stanley Cup,” Sakic said. “It was nice getting past the second-round, but each year was a different circumstance. We weren’t playing against the second-round. This year we did a great job against the St. Louis Blues. That was a heck of a hockey team we beat and that was the goal for that round.

“Now we’re playing a real tough Edmonton Oiler team. They’re one of the best teams in the last three months. So, we’re facing them, we’re not facing the third-round now. We’re facing the Edmonton Oilers and that’s who we’re trying to beat in a seven game series.”

It’s great and refreshing perspective from a man who knows a couple things about winning a Stanley Cup. Sakic, of course, got two of those with the Avs in 1996 and 2001. Now he’s leading the team and has assembled a supremely talented roster that can absolutely win the whole thing.

But there’s no doubt the Oilers possess a ton of talent as well, with a dynamic and high-powered offense. Sakic basically said fans should buckle up before this series gets rolling.

“It’s gonna be exciting. They’ve got some world class players there, two of the best in the game and so do we. Both teams have great depth. I just think for the league, if you’re a fan of the game, you’re going to enjoy this series,” Sakic said.

The goal isn’t to beat the third-round, the goal for the Avalanche is to beat the Oilers. Just like it was to beat the Nashville Predators in Round 1, then the Blues in Round 2.

The journey to try to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2001 begins in about 30 hours at Ball Arena.
***

Related

Avalanche name new head coach for AHL affiliate EaglesFive most important Avalanche games during the 2026-27 seasonNHL drops schedule for 2026-27 Avalanche seasonFirst Avalanche game of 2026-27 season announced, it’s in SeptemberAvs make three more depth signings, including forward with 477 NHL gamesAvalanche sign depth defenseman from the Flyers