Stanley Cup champions are as stone cold as ice.

In a 5-4 overtime loss, when Colorado coughed up a three-goal lead and failed to eliminate St. Louis from the NHL playoffs, the Avs were as soft as butterscotch pudding.

What was revealed Wednesday night, which should have been a hat-tossing celebration of Nathan MacKinnon as the most electric hockey player in the world?

As talented as the Avs are, they haven’t learned how to close the deal. When they should’ve been the hammer, they were the nail. That’s on all of them, including coach Jared Bednar, who didn’t keep his foot on the gas when Colorado had a chance to end this best-of-seven series in Game 5.

“You’re either the hammer or the nail,” said Bednar, who lamented the Avalanche’s inability to maintain its aggression when playing with a late lead.

A less benevolent listener than me might think Bednar blamed his players, criticizing the Avs for dumping the puck too casually and not maintaining possession in the offensive zone. This Colorado team is built, from front to back, to pour it on, not protect the lead. So call me crazy, but shouldn’t the coach be responsible for hiding under a shell when the Blues started buzzing with desperation?

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