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5 reasons why Colorado Avalanche will win Stanley Cup

By Jeremy Lambert

DENVER, CO - MARCH 18: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Nathan MacKinnon's
DENVER, CO - MARCH 18: Members of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Nathan MacKinnon's /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 07: Goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 of the Colorado Avalanche stands in net prior to the game against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 07: Goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 of the Colorado Avalanche stands in net prior to the game against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Jonathan Bernier

Perhaps the biggest offseason move Joe Sakic made was signing Jonathan Bernier to backup Semyon Varlamov. Injuries have hampered Varlamov his entire career and the the Avalanche got tired of rolling with the likes of Calvin Pickard or Reto Berra.

At 29-years-old, Bernier fit exactly what the Avalanche wanted. A still young, but veteran goaltender with playoff experience. Maybe not in-game playoff experience, but locker room playoff experience. He won a Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and was in the conference finals last year with the Ducks.

As expected, Varlamov suffered an injury this season. And when he did, Bernier was there to backstop the Avalanche. He won nine of the ten games during Colorado’s ten-game win streak. He made 32 saves in the must-win game against St. Louis. He had injury issues of his own, namely a late-season concussion, but when the Avalanche needed him, he was there.

No, he’s never faced the playoff pressure as a No. 1 goalie. But everyone starts somewhere and Bernier has a leg up on other playoff goalie virgins thanks to his time in the Kings and Ducks organizations.

As we all know, sometimes in the playoffs, the best team doesn’t win. The team with the hottest goaltender wins. Bernier has proven this season that he can get hot.

And if he can’t get rolling, Andrew Hammond is waiting in the wings. Like Bernier, he has no playoff success, but is another goaltender with the capability of getting hot.

Yes, I’m reaching here. Let’s just move on.

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