from Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post,

Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is nearing his franchise’s biggest moment in a decade, just two consecutive wins shy of a berth in the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with zero room for error.

Game 6 against the Sharks on Monday night inside Pepsi Center, trailing the series 3-2, helps decide whether the 2018-19 Avs were a greatness-building block or contender coming-out party. Expect some team reflection in the pregame dressing room, and while Landeskog carries his leadership torch proudly, don’t expect the stoic 26-year-old Swede to wax poetic about the stakes.

“I’m not much for speeches, personally,” he said. “So many guys have been in this position before.”...

“We’ve been counted out numerous times,” Landeskog said. “We’re not going to pack it in just because we’re facing elimination. Everybody is going to step up.”

Coach Jared Bednar told reporters he’s careful not to over-coach his team this time of the year. A player-led culture has allowed for correction when Colorado needed it most. Bednar was clearly irked Saturday night after Game 5 at San Jose in which he said the Avs simply got “outworked” in a 2-1 defeat. Bednar didn’t let that frustration follow him off the plane home.

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