One of the cooler wordmarks in the history of the NHL. The Avs used this from the ’95-’96 season to the ’98-’99 season. The Avalanche changed their maroon color slightly, which was the only change after the ’98-’99 season. (Photo via sportslogos.net)

The 3rd-seeded ’96-’97 Avalanche led 5-3 after two periods in Game 1, but the 6th-seeded ’98-’99 Avalanche would score three unanswered goals in the third to win 6-5. Theoren Fleury, Adam Deadmarsh and Joe Sakic all posted multi-point game in the win for the ’98-’99 Avalanche despite being outshot 60-31 in the game. The ’96-’97 Avalanche responded with a 6-4 win in Game 2 while scoring two goals in each period. Peter Forsberg registered a hat trick to lead them offensively while Deadmarsh scored twice and Valeri Kamensky tallied two assists. Then, thanks to four points each from Deadmarsh (4G) and Forsberg (2G, 2A), the ’96-’97 Flyers won Game 3, 6-2. Scott Young also had a big night with three assists.

Sakic gave the ’98-’99 Avs a 1-0 lead in Game 4 just 23 seconds into the game, but they would get shutout over the next 59 plus minutes by Patrick Roy. The ’96-’97 Flyers won Game 4 by a score of 4-1 with two goals from Keith Jones. The ’98-’99 Avalanche got outshot 53-35 in Game 5, but a goal from Kamensky halfway through the third period gave them a 6-4 lead. However, Sandis Ozolinsh made it a one-goal game with five plus minutes left. Then, Deadmarsh tied the game 12 seconds after that and finally, Ozolinsh scored on the PP with just over two minutes left to make it 7-6 in favor of the ’96-’97 Avs. They would hang on for that lead to seal the series and advance to the Semifinal Round. 

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’98-’99 COL – 6   ’96-’97 COL – 5   (1-0   ’98-’99 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Theoren Fleury (’98-’99 COL) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +1   1 S

2nd Star: D – Sandis Ozolinsh (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   7 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: G – Marc Denis (’98-’99 COL) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (33 SV’s); Replaced starter Patrick Roy at the 10:27 mark of the second period

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’96-’97 COL – 6   ’98-’99 COL – 4   (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Peter Forsberg (’96-’97 COL) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +1   10 S   4 PIM

2nd Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’98-’99 COL) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   3 S

3rd Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   10 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’96-’97 COL – 6   ’98-’99 COL – 2   (2-1   ’96-’97 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Adam Deadmarsh (’96-’97 COL) – 4 G   0 A   4 P   +2   10 S

2nd Star: C – Peter Forsberg (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   7 S

3rd Star: G – Patrick Roy (’96-’97 COL) – W   2.00 GAA   .950 SV% (38 SV’s)

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’96-’97 COL – 4   ’98-’99 COL – 1   (3-1   ’96-’97 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Keith Jones (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   6 S

2nd Star: G – Patrick Roy (’96-’97 COL) – W   1.00 GAA   .966 SV% (28 SV’s)

3rd Star: G – Patrick Roy (’98-’99 COL) – L   4.00 GAA   .920 SV% (46 SV’s)

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’96-’97 COL – 7   ’98-’99 COL – 6   (4-1   ’96-’97 COL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Mike Ricci (’96-’97 COL) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +3   3 S

2nd Star: RW – Claude Lemieux (’98-’99 COL) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +2   4 S

3rd Star: LW – Valeri Kamensky (’98-’99 COL) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   3 S

That wraps up the First Round of the 2015 Colorado Avalanche Qualifying Tournament!