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St. Louis Blues force Colorado Avalanche to counter moves made in Game 2 of their NHL playoff series

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, right, shoots against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the second period in Game 2 of their NHL Stanley Cup second-round playoff series on Thursday in Denver. (AP photo)

Nathan MacKinnon saw a team that just couldn’t get up the ice with its customary speed. Couldn’t generate quality scoring chances. Couldn’t get in a flow.

That wasn’t them.

“We were bad,” the Colorado forward said after a 4-1 loss to St. Louis that tied the series at a game apiece. “Really bad.”

The Blues made all the right moves — from shuffling their lines to generate more offense to finding a way to clog up the middle and frustrate the Avalanche’s fast flyers.

It’s now Colorado’s move in this high stakes game of chess on ice as the series shifs to St. Louis for Game 3 tonight (8 p.m. ET, TNT).

St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron, left, celebrates his goal against the Colorado Avalanche with teammate Pavel Buchnevich during the third period in Game 2 of their NHL Stanley Cup second-round playoff series on Thursday in Denver. (AP photo)

Everything’s on the table, too, for the top seed in the West. That includes line changes and possibly swapping out players.

“You’re not going to win in the playoffs if you don’t bring your best game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday after practice. “We weren’t even close last night and it’s on us. …. Our best game is to be determined. We’re always in search of the perfect game.”

First order of business: Finding a way to create more space for MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar to maneuver. The Blues made it awfully difficult for them through the neutral zone in Game 2. Makar has yet to register a point after a three-goal, seven-assist series in a first-round sweep of Nashville.

There’s also the curious case of Mikko Rantanen, who led the team in points during the regular season but has yet to score in these playoffs (he does have seven assists).

“Do you think Mikko is playing his best hockey that you’ve seen him play?” Bednar quizzed. “We need him to be an impact player.”

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