from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post,

With every punch Avs captain Gabe Landeskog landed to the mug of a bozo wearing a Blues sweater, the message was pounded home: Do not mistake pretty for weak.

The NHL playoffs are not for the meek of heart. Turn the other cheek? This ain’t church, pal.

This best-of-seven series got chippy early. So be it. Are you sure this is a battle you want, St. Louis? Colorado is built to make good trouble. In a 4-1 victory, Landeskog bombed the Blues with a Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, not one but two assists and a fight.

Not long after he first stepped on the ice in North America as a 16-year-old from Sweden, “I started fighting,” Landeskog said. To prove he’s no soft European import, he has never been reluctant to drop the gloves and exchange punches.

Although some people might take his fondness for fisticuffs the wrong way, Landeskog admits: “I kind of enjoy it.”

A little over 10 minutes into the opening period of this opening-round playoff series, St. Louis forward “Bozo” Brayden Schenn took a cheap shot at the knee of Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen as he wheeled on the attack.

The Blues, knowing full well they cannot skate with Colorado, went low on Mikko. The Avs better get used to it, because the NHL playoffs might be the last true vestige of old-time hockey, where elevated testosterone levels can turn an otherwise fine gentleman into a goon wielding a stick, and the refs often sit back, swallow their whistles and let it all be decided on the ice.

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Below watch the game highlights.