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Roy, youthful Avalanche brace for Game 7 against Wild in a series home team has won each time

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny, front left, celebrates a game-winning goal by Nathan MacKinnon as Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, rear, and goalie Darcy Kuemper, right, look on in overtime in Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 26, 2014, in Denver. The Avalanche won 4-3. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) (The Associated Press)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, right, of Russia, congratulates Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, after MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, April 26, 2014, in Denver. The Avalanche won 4-3. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) (The Associated Press)

Patrick Roy was quite calm and even cracked a few jokes as his team went through a light workout. No signs of stress at all.

Of course, the first-year Colorado Avalanche coach has been in a few pressure-packed Game 7 situations as a Hall of Fame goaltender — 13 to be exact.

His players? Not as much experience. A dozen had never been to the postseason before this year.

And yet Roy's hardly fretting over his team's emotional state heading into a decisive final game Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild, with the winner moving on to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

On the contrary, Roy's reminding his youthful team of one simple thing: Enjoy the moment.