Trade-deadline acquisition Michael Hutchinson, a 30-year-old journeyman goaltender, helped save the Avalanche’s season Monday night, thanks in large part to an overpowering offensive attack.
Called upon as second-string goalie Pavel Francouz was declared “unfit to play,” Hutchinson was more than up to the task in Colorado’s 6-3 victory over Dallas.
The Avs trimmed the Stars lead in the Western Conference semifinal series, 3-2, with Game 6 on Wednesday in Edmonton.
With the Avs’ injury list growing by the day, perhaps they were the only ones who knew they had a chance against the healthy Stars, whom they nearly skated off the ice with a 5-0 blitzkrieg in the first period.