4 X factors who could push their team to NHL playoffs (Western Conference)

Colorado Avalanche X factor: Tyson Barrie

Like Doughty for the Los Angeles Kings, Tyson Barrie is a stud for the Colorado Avalanche. Barrie’s recent play has been exceptional, and shows no signs of slowing down as the wild-card race heats up.

On a young Avalanche team, Tyson Barrie has taken the role as the team’s captain on defense. With due credit to emerging superstars Mikko Rantenen and Nathan MacKinnon, who both have 21 points in their last 14 games, the Avalanche would simply not be in the position they currently are without a star defenseman like Barrie.

Barrie did it all through the month of March for a hungry Avalanche team. Barrie averaged a team-high 25.09 minutes of ice time per game, more than three minutes to the next closest Av. He helps quarterback a power play that is currently operating at 21 percent, good for 11th in the league, and put up five goals and eight assists in just 13 games.

The Avalanche’s high-flying offense, which ranks eighth in the NHL averaging 3.2 goals per game, relies heavily on a quick transition game. They like to get pucks out of the defensive zone quickly onto the sticks of their speedy forwards. Barrie is exceptional at this, as he has 40 assists on the season, which helps add fuel to the fire that is the Avalanche’s talented offense.

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Barrie is a game-breaking defenseman. He will need to continue his top form and prove that he is the X factor the Avalanche need to propel them to a postseason berth.

Check out the four players who could lead their teams to the Eastern Conference playoffs.