Avalanche shut out Oilers in Game 2 to take 2-0 series lead

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Avalanche up 2-0 in conference final after shutting out Oilers in Game 2

By Adam Stites | Last updated 6/2/22

The Colorado Avalanche were without starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper on Thursday night, but backup Pavel Francouz led the team to a 4-0 victory in Game 2 and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final.

Neither team scored in the first period Thursday, then Colorado took over with a brief scoring frenzy in the second period. Artturi Lehkonen scored the Avalanche's first goal of the game and, just 15 seconds later, Josh Manson made it 2-0. Another minute and 49 seconds later, Mikko Rantanen scored Colorado's third goal of the game.

The @Avalanche are firing on all cylinders — that's three goals in 2:04. #StanleyCup

: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/nfRdAn1BB3
: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/NASq2H5wX9 pic.twitter.com/bYufvl3LU2
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2022

The Avalanche set a franchise record for the fastest trio of playoff goals by scoring three in 124 seconds. It was the 10th fastest three-goal spree in NHL postseason history.

Talk about an @Avalanche of goals. ️@43_Kadri had three assists in the middle frame to match the franchise record for most in a playoff period (also Risto Siltanen in Game 5 of 1987 DSF & Joe Sakic in Game 2 of 1996 SCF). #NHLStats: https://t.co/eKwm5QTTFV #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/bH7Na0zvEn
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 3, 2022

Colorado's final goal came late in the third period when Nathan MacKinnon scored on a power play.

Francouz, 32, recorded a postseason shutout in August 2020 when he led the Avalanche to a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars during the Western Conference seeding round-robin. Earlier this year, Francouz was forced into action for one start against the Nashville Predators, which the Avalanche won, 5-3.

More must-reads: