The Avs were third with 270, just behind the Ottawa Senators, who had 274. Colorado also allowed the third-fewest goals against in the regular season with 192. The Devils only allowed three more. They just didn't find ways to score as much. So while teams are getting more defensive, the fact that the Avs and Devils are the teams battling for the Stanley Cup proves teams have to be able to play on both ends of the ice in today's NHL to win.
Good defense creates turnovers, and allows speedy teams like the Avs capitalize on transitions.
In the playoffs so far, the Avs have scored 59 goals, an average of 3.10 goals per game. They've allowed 33, an average of just 1.73 goals-against. By contrast, in 1999, the last year the Avs were still trying to win in the playoffs simply by outscoring the opposition, they averaged 2.89 goals for and 2.78 goals against. In the 2000 playoffs, after Colorado adapted a more defensive team style which they refined this year, they scored 43 goals in 17 games, an average of 2.52, while allowing 1.88 against. I believe that if you want to be successful, especially in the playoffs, against a good offensive team, it begins with good defense.