The San Jose Sharks turned Game 1 around with a renewed forecheck after killing the Colorado Avalanche’s four-minute power play in the second period. According to Kevin Labanc and Lukas Radil, the momentum from the penalty kill fueled the forecheck.
A strong forecheck does more than create offense.
“We do a good job on the forecheck, it stops their speed,” Joakim Ryan said. “They’re not rolling out on their breakouts with full speed. Stopping them on the forecheck is huge.”
But the forecheck was also a big part of the three goals that San Jose scored to close the middle frame, most directly on the Brent Burns’s goal.