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The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars continue their series in the first possible elimination game at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:50 pm. MT.
Read More: How The Avalanche’s Forward Group Compares to The 2022 Championship Blueprint
There’s only one way to assess everything that unfolded in Game 5. Maybe, just maybe, all the bad luck, poor officiating, and well, self-inflicted wounds, are out of the way after that loss. Maybe.
The Avs are looking to bounce back in the biggest of ways. They have no choice. Last year, Colorado lost in double overtime of Game 6 against the Dallas Stars in a series they had no business winning. This time, they have a lot more to fight for. They’ve got a lineup that can win. They’ve got an opportunity to do something special. If they don’t, the series is over.
This team, this core, has not won a series they’ve trailed since the first round against Calgary in 2019. They’ve also not beaten Pete DeBoer’s clubs in three previous tries. It’s not about winning two in a row. It’s about winning Game 6 at Ball Arena, protecting home ice, then heading to Dallas for a winner-take-all coin flip in Game 7. Imagine that.
The Avs aren’t expected to make any lineup changes. Erik Johnson was on the ice later than Sam Malinski, meaning he’ll probably sit again.. They’re going to ride with the same group, with hopes that the responses come from within. They’ve got way more to give than they did in Game 5, and they know it.
READ MORE: Landeskog Scores in Avalanche’s Dominating Game 4 Victory
For Dallas, it’s business as usual. They’ve been a Western Conference finalist in the previous two seasons before this one. Losing in the first round isn’t something they’re expected to do. Especially with a 3-2 series lead.
Last game, they needed their top guys to wake up, and they did. Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Roope Hintz entered Game 5 with four combined points through the first four games. They had eight in that game alone. No lineup changes are coming to their lineup, meaning Miro Heiskanen again won’t play. He practiced on Wednesday alongside Thomas Harley, but DeBoer again said the No. 1 defenseman is getting closer but not ready yet.
It’ll be Jake Oettinger vs Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. Colorado’s netminder needs a bounce-back from Game 5.
And as for the Avalanche… They need their top stars to respond the way Dallas’ did on Monday.
Read More: 10 Observations: No Excuses For Avs Game 5 Loss
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Jonathan Drouin — Charlie Coyle — Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Ryan Lindgren — Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Mikael Granlund — Roope Hintz — Mikko Rantanen
Mason Marchment — Matt Duchene — Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Evgenii Dadonov
Oskar Back — Sam Steel — Colin Blackwell
Esa Lindell — Cody Ceci
Thomas Harley — Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bichsel — Alexander Petrovic
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
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Avalanche at Dallas Stars Game 5: Building Off The Last One — How Will DeBoer Respond? Lines, Notes & How To Watch
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