Favell was the better goaltender in this series and that helped lead the ’77-’78 Rockies back to the UNP. (via goaliesarchive.com)

First off, here is the bracket for the 2016 Colorado Rockies Qualifying Tournament.

The ’77-’78 Colorado Rockies represented the extinct club in the inaugural Ultimate NHL Playoff and now will head back there for the Third Annual Ultimate NHL Playoff. The ’77-’78 Rockies got off to a good started with a 7-4 win in Game 1. Gary Croteau scored twice and added two helpers while defenseman Tom Edur had a goal and two assists to lead Colorado offensively. The ’76-’77 Colorado Rockies then took Game 2 by a score of 4-2. They trailed 3-2 after the first period, but a goal from Dave Hudson in the second and Simon Nolet in the third turned the tables for a win. The ’77-’78 Rockies got back on track with a 6-3 win in Game 3 as they got three-point performances from Wilf Paiement and Denis Dupere.

Game 4 wasn’t much of a contest as the ’77-’78 Rockies exploded for an 8-2 win and a 3-1 series lead. Five different players registered multi-point games for the ’77-’78 Rockies with Andy Spruce and defenseman John Van Boxmeer leading the way with three points each. Doug Favell also had a nice night for the victors as he stopped 52 of 54 shots against. The ’76-’77 Rockies avoided elimination with a 4-3 win in Game 5 as Barry Dean scored twice and goaltender Michel Plasse stopped 54 of 57 shots against. However, the ’76-’77 Rockies were chasing the game in Game 6 as the ’77-’78 Rockies got out to an early lead and led 4-1 after the first period. They fought back and tied the game a little less than eight minutes into the second period, with two of those goals coming from Paiement. However, Croteau scored with less than five minutes left in the period to give the ’77-’78 Rockies a 5-4 lead. Paiement then added an insurance marker for the ’77-’78 Rockies halfway through the third as they won 6-4 to clinch the series. 

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: ’77-’78 CLR – 7   ’76-’77 CLR – 4   (1-0   ’77-’78 CLR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Gary Croteau (’77-’78 CLR) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   10 S

2nd Star: LW – Barry Dean (’76-’77 CLR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +3   9 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: D – Tom Edur (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   7 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLR – 4   ’77-’78 CLR – 3   (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Michel Plasse (’76-’77 CLR) – W   3.00 GAA   .951 SV% (58 SV’s)

2nd Star: D – Barry Beck (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   Even   5 S

3rd Star: D – Tom Edur (’76-’77 CLR) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +2   6 S   2 PIM

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: ’77-’78 CLR – 6   ’76-’77 CLR – 3   (2-1   ’77-’78 CLR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Wilf Paiement (’77-’78 CLR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   Even   19 S

2nd Star: G – Doug Favell (’77-’78 CLR) – W   3.00 GAA   .944 SV% (51 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Denis Dupere (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   Even   1 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: ’77-’78 CLR – 8   ’76-’77 CLR – 2   (3-1   ’77-’78 CLR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Doug Favell (’77-’78 CLR) – W   2.00 GAA   .963 SV% (52 SV’s)

2nd Star: LW – Andy Spruce (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   8 S

3rd Star: D – John Van Boxmeer (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +1   3 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLR – 4   ’77-’78 CLR – 3   (3-2   ’77-’78 CLR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Michel Plasse (’76-’77 CLR) – W   3.00 GAA   .947 SV% (54 SV’s)

2nd Star: LW – Barry Dean (’76-’77 CLR) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   6 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: G – Doug Favell (’77-’78 CLR) – L   4.00 GAA   .922 SV% (47 SV’s)

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY: ’77-’78 CLR – 6   ’76-’77 CLR – 4   (4-2   ’77-’78 CLR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Tom Edur (’77-’78 CLR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   Even   4 S

2nd Star: RW – Wilf Paiement (’76-’77 CLR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   Even   9 S

3rd Star: LW – Gary Croteau (’77-’78 CLR) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   4 S

The ’77-’78 Rockies will make their second appearance in the UNP after representing Colorado’s first NHL franchise in the inaugural UNP. Up next is the Atlanta Flames Qualifying Tournament!