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Game Four Preview: Avs eyeing an even series

May 11, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) battle for the puck in the third period in game three of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Game Four of the second-round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars gets underway tonight at Ball Arena. Dallas is up in the series 2-1 and will look to win tonight and take a dominant 3-1 series lead back home.

The Avs are looking for a response themselves after dropping Game Three. They shot themselves in the foot and struggled to play well. Can they muster up something different in this game?

Colorado Avalanche (5-3-0)

After a disappointing 4-1 loss at home in Game Three on Saturday night, Colorado needs a response. While Mikko Rantanen was the lone goalscorer, he and the rest of the team did not show up beyond the rebound goal in the second period.

Jared Bednar said the team lost the game in the first 40 minutes when they didn’t score on the several chances they got early on. They need to get in front of Jake Oettinger and cause some trouble in the defensive zone to even the series up at two.

They look as though they’ll be getting some help with a plausible return to the lineup for Johnathan Drouin from a lower-body injury. His skate cut seems to have healed, and his presence in this game could be big if he can go. If he plays, expect one of Brandon Duhaime or Joel Kiviranta to exit the lineup to make room.

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 Kiviranta (94)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Sam Girard (49) – Josh Manson (42)
Jack Johnson (3) – Sean Walker (26)

Alexandar Georgiev (40)

Dallas Stars (6-3-1)

Dallas’ 4-1 win in Game Three was crucial after losing their home-ice advantage in the Game One overtime loss at home to these same Avs on Miles Wood’s winner. Both Tyler Seguin and Logan Stankoven scored two goals to help them win the last game.

It was a near-perfect road game, according to head coach Pete DeBoer for his Stars side. While they were faced with pressure early on, they withheld and took advantage of the Avalanche’s mistakes to make them pay.

DeBoer and the Stars have always been a pain for the Avs. If they win, it will be a dominant 3-1 series lead with a chance to win it at home for Game Five. Can they get the job done, or will it be a best-of-three 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 Heiskanen (4)
Esa Lindell (23) – Chris Tanev (3)
Ryan Suter (20) – Nils Lundkvist (5)

Jake Oettinger (29)

Broadcast Details

Time: 7:30 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN, FX-CA, Sportsnet, TVAS

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio FM 92.5

Opponent’s Beat: Defending Big D