Game Four Preview: Colorado needs a home win to even series at two

6 months ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images


The Avalanche fell behind 2-1 in the series and have yet to lead on the scoreboard in regulation.
Through two periods in Game Three, the Colorado Avalanche fought both the puck and the Dallas Stars to a seemingly dominant shot share, outchancing their opponent 22-8 and only giving up three high-danger opportunities. But that didn’t matter, as they were down 2-1 and couldn’t muster any offense in the third before two empty net goals sealed the Stars victory.
That can’t happen tonight, as a loss would send the series back to Texas with the Avalanche down 3-1 on the brink of elimination. A better result starts with the power play, a unit that went 0-for-3 in Game 3 and squandered the Avs's best stretch of play.
The key for that group to improve could be Mikko Rantanen - he’s racked up assists this playoff season, but has yet to look like his best self and an engaged, dangerous Rantanen would elevate the powerplay back to the success it had against the Winnipeg Jets. Dallas’ PK has been playing fast and tight to the Avs players, so quick accurate passing should be able to force them out of position and create opportunities.
It’s crunch time in this series sooner than some expected - time for Colorado’s stars to buckle in and get to work.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado was generally good for long stretches of Game Three but just didn’t look in sync despite strong underlying statistics. They should get a huge boost in Game 4, as Jonathan Drouin took morning skate in a PP1 jersey and that’s an extremely good sign that he’ll be back in the lineup.
Drouin’s presence should make a difference not just on the aforementioned power play, but also in the top six at even strength - he’ll push Zach Parise down the lineup into a role he’s much better suited for at this stage of his career. Joel Kiviranta or Brandon Duhaime likely cede their spot in the lineup to make room for Drouin.
On defense, more of the same would make for an excellent game. Despite the 4-1 score, Game Three was actually a masterclass in Avalanche-style defense - all six blueliners were excellent in quickly recovering pucks and finding outlets to move play out of their end into the attacking end and making jumps into the offense without ceding many chances back the other way.
Unfortunately, two of those few chances did end up in the back of the net, which is not to say Alexandar Georgiev was bad just that this version of the Colorado Avalanche has to score three or more to win as even a near-perfect game is unlikely to be a shutout or one-goal affair.
Projected Lines
Jonathan Drouin (27) - Nathan MacKinnon (29) - Mikko Rantanen (96)Artturi Lehkonen (62) - Casey Mittelstadt (37) - Valeri Nichushkin (13) Miles Wood (28) - Ross Colton (20) - Zach Parise (9) Andrew Cogliano (11) - Yakov Trenin (73) - Joel Kivranta (94)
Devon Toews (7) - Cale Makar (8)Sam Girard (49) - Josh Manson (42)Jack Johnson (3) - Sean Walker (26)
Note: Drouin is officially a game-time decision, and it’s unclear at the time of this writing if Kiviranta, Cogliano, or Duhaime would sit to make room for him.
Dallas Stars
Credit to the Stars, they have done enough to win back-to-back games after giving up a brutal comeback in Game One. Their defensive shell in front of netminder Jake Oettinger in the third period of Game 3 was incredibly effective - they just didn’t give the Avs any openings to even the score.
While the goals are coming from the top of the lineup and their star goalie is the main story, Dallas’s depth is what’s truly stifling the Avalanche as Colorado can’t quite find a matchup to exploit as it did against Winnipeg. Gone are the days of easy offense for whichever line gets to skate against Mark Scheifele - in his place, it’s two-way studs Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and even this rejuvenated version of Matt Duchene.
The whole lineup is defending well, and if Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley keep creating offense from the backend this could be a short series.
Projected Lines
Jason Robertson (21) - Roope Hintz (24) - Logan Stankoven (11)Jamie Benn (14) - Wyatt Johnston (53) - Joe Pavelski (16)Mason Marchment (27) - Matt Duchene (95) - Tyler Seguin (91)Evgenii Dadonov (63) - Sam Steel (18) - Craig Smith (15)
Thomas Harley (55) - Miro Hiskanen (4)Esa Lindell (23) - Chris Tanev (3)Ryan Suter (20) - Nils Lundkvist (5)
Goaltenders
No changes - Alexandar Georgiev will face Jake Oettinger yet again.
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