Milan Hejduk began the scoring in this series as he scored just 59 seconds into Game 1 to give the top-seeded ’00-’01 Avalanche an early lead. However, less than two minutes later, Claude Lemieux scored to tie it for the 3rd-seeded ’96-’97 Avalanche. The top seed scored twice in the second to hold a 3-1 lead at the start of the third. The ’96-’97 Avalanche scored on the PP late in the third to make it a one-goal game, but the ’00-’01 Avalanche held on for a 3-2 win. Then, Game 2 was tied 5-5 after two periods and Keith Jones scored almost nine minutes into the third to give the ’96-’97 Avalanche a 6-5 lead and they would hold on to tie the series up at one. A hat trick from Adam Deadmarsh helped. Goaltender Patrick Roy would post a 32-save shutout in Game 3 for the ’00-’01 Avalanche as they won 4-0. Peter Forsberg led the way with two goals and an assist.

The ’00-’01 Avalanche dominated again in Game 4, winning 7-2 to take a 3-1 series lead. Forsberg and Hejduk both scored twice in the win while Ray Bourque and Joe Sakic both posted three points. Then, on the back of two goals from Valeri Kamensky, the ’96-’97 Avalanche won Game 5 by a score of 4-2. Meanwhile, Alex Tanguay scored both goals for the top seed in the loss. In Game 6, the ’96-’97 Avalanche put exactly 17 shots on in the first, second and third periods for a total of 51 shots on goal to the top seeds’ 29. However, the ’00-’01 Avalanche won the game 4-3. They actually opened up a 4-0 lead by the eight minute mark of the second period and the ’96-’97 Avalanche rallied off three goals before the end of the second. But, Roy would hold them off from there to help clinch the first Ultimate NHL Playoff berth for the ’00-’01 Avalanche.

GAME 1:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’96-’97 Avalanche 1 0 1 — 2 ’00-’01 Avalanche 1 2 0 — 3

GAME SUMMARY: ’00-’01 COL – 3 ’96-’97 COL – 2 (1-0 ’00-’01 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Ray Bourque (’00-’01 COL) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 9 S 4 PIM

2nd Star: G – Patrick Roy (’96-’97 COL) – L 3.00 GAA .945 SV% (52 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’96-’97 COL) – 1 G 1 A 2 P Even 4 S

GAME 2:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’96-’97 Avalanche 3 2 1 — 6 ’00-’01 Avalanche 3 2 0 — 5

GAME SUMMARY: ’96-’97 COL – 6 ’00-’01 COL – 5 (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’96-’97 COL) – 3 G 0 A 3 P +2 4 S

2nd Star: C – Peter Forsberg (’96-’97 COL) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +2 3 S 2 PIM

3rd Star: RW – Keith Jones (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 8 S 2 PIM

GAME 3:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’00-’01 Avalanche 1 1 2 — 4 ’96-’97 Avalanche 0 0 0 — 0

GAME SUMMARY: ’00-’01 COL – 4 ’96-’97 COL – 0 (2-1 ’00-’01 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Patrick Roy (’00-’01 COL) – W 0.00 GAA 1.000 SV% (32 SV’s) SO

2nd Star: C – Peter Forsberg (’00-’01 COL) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +2 4 S

3rd Star: LW – Ville Nieminen (’00-’01 COL) – 1 g 1 A 2 P +2 1 S

GAME 4:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’00-’01 Avalanche 2 3 2 — 7 ’96-’97 Avalanche 1 0 1 — 2

GAME SUMMARY: ’00-’01 COL – 7 ’96-’97 COL – 2 (3-1 ’00-’01 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Joe Sakic (’00-’01 COL) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +2 9 S

2nd Star: D – Ray Bourque (’00-’01 COL) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +4 6 S

3rd Star: RW – Milan Hejduk (’00-’01 COL) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +2 6 S

GAME 5:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’96-’97 Avalanche 2 1 1 — 4 ’00-’01 Avalanche 0 1 1 — 2

GAME SUMMARY: ’96-’97 COL – 4 ’00-’01 COL – 2 (3-2 ’00-’01 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Valeri Kamensky (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 2 S

2nd Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’96-’97 COL) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 2 S

3rd Star: LW – Alex Tanguay (’00-’01 COL) – 2 G 0 A 2 P -2 6 S

GAME 6:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’00-’01 Avalanche 2 2 0 — 4 ’96-’97 Avalanche 0 3 0 — 3

GAME SUMMARY: ’00-’01 COL – 4 ’96-’97 COL – 3 (4-2 ’00-’01 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Patrick Roy (’00-’01 COL) – W 3.00 GAA .941 SV% (48 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Milan Hejduk (’00-’01 COL) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 6 S

3rd Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’00-’01 COL) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 2 S

The ’00-’01 Colorado Avalanche are the 38th team to qualify for the upcoming 2015 Ultimate NHL Playoff. It will be their first trip to the tournament and they are the 18th team that will make their debut in the upcoming 2015 Ultimate NHL Playoff. Up next is the 2015 New Jersey Devils Qualifying Tournament!