(3C) Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4, 3-3, 102 PTS) HC: Jared Bednar Top Performers: Nathan MacKinnon (32-84-116 +25); Cale Makar (30-62-92 +28); Artturi Lehkonen (69 GP, 27-18-45 +36); Devon Toews (10-34-44 +30)
Key Defensive Pairs: Cale Makar (30-62-92 +28); Devon Toews (10-34-44 +30)
Welcome In (All w/COL): Martin Necas (30 GP, 11-17-28 +1); Jack Drury (33 GP, 5-4-9); Brock Nelson (19 GP, 6-7-13 +6); Charlie Coyle (19 GP, 2-11-13 +5);
COL Outlook: This is a team alongside general manager Chris MacFarland and team president Joe Sakic that has remade the entire roster during the season. Loads of center depth (MacKinnon, Nelson, Coyle, Drury); Defense: Ryan Lindgren, Keaton Middleton, Erik Johnson Goalies: Alexandar Georgiev, Justus Annunen, Kaapo Kahkonen and Trent Miner (AHL Goaltending) Sure, this matchup will bust brackets… (who knows what we will see) but I’m still taking COL to get to the Stanley Cup Finals with TB, and if I had to pick a team… it’s COL.
(2C) Dallas Stars (50-26-6, 3-3, 106 PTS) HC: Peter DeBoer Top Performers: Matt Duchene (30-51-81 +14); Jason Robertson (35-45-80 +10); Wyatt Johnston (33-38-71 +2); Roope Hintz (28-39-67 +18); Jamie Benn (16-33-49 +3); Mason Marchment (21-25-46 +15)
Key Defensive Pairs: Thomas Harley (16-34-50 +33); Esa Lindell (5-21-26 +35);
The injuries of Jason Robertson (Week-to-Week); Defense: Miro Heiskanen (Maybe Our R1); Nils Lundkvist (Season); Returns: Tyler Seguin (19 GP, 9-11-20 +14); Mikko Rantanen (w/ DAL, 19 GP, 5-13-18 +6) Is still third-leading scorer on COL (49 GP, 25-39-64 +12);
DAL Outlook: 0-5-2 in the last seven games to end the regular season. Five goals against, 40 to 50+ shots against nothing close. It was a seven-game win streak prior. The issue (besides having a matchup that could be played as a Western Conference Final) is that the injuries of Robertson and Heiskanen are critical. Lindell and Harley need to stay split, as a result it does mean that Cody Ceci and Ilya Lyubushkin need to play top minutes. If DAL wins that side of the ice, that’s going to be the clear decider on who wins this series.
Goaltending Matchup: (All Since Trade to COL) MacKenzie Blackwood (37 GP, 22-12-3, 2.33 GAA, .913 SV, 3 SO); Scott Wedgewood (19 GP, 13-4-1, 1.99 GAA, .917 SV, 2 SO) vs. Jake Oettinger (36-17-4, 2.53 GAA, .911 SV, 2 SO); Casey DeSmith (14-8-2, 2.63 GAA, .913 SV, 2 SO)
Series Summary:
Game 1: COL Wins 5-1: Nathan MacKinnon 2-1-3 +2, 7 SOG; Blackwood 23 of 24. DAL Roope Hintz 1 G.
Game 2: DAL wins 4-3 (OT) Colin Blackwell (OT GWG); Seguin, Dadonov, Harley. Oettinger (W) 34 of 37. COL: Logan O’Connor 1-1-2.
Game 3: DAL wins 2-1 (OT) DAL ties the game in the third (Benn, PPG on-tip) and Seguin (beautiful OT GWG on a pass from Marchment) in the slot. Oettinger gets the win as he stops 27 of 28.
Game 4: COL wins 4-0. Captain Gabriel Landeskog (1-1-2 +2, 3 SOG) moves up the second line and scores for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals and title claim over the Tampa Bay Lightning. First shutout of the series as Blackwood stops all 23 shots, Oettinger pulled after two periods. He was terrific though as he saves 31 of 34 and keeps the game anywhere close at 3-0 at the time.
Game 5: DAL wins 6-2. Domination from the Stars. Quick goals. Rantanen (1-2-3 +2 6 Shots) scores for the first time in this series and a Wyatt Johnston (2-1-3 +2) breakout. Oettinger excellent again as he stops 26 of 28. Blackwood pummeled as he pulled after two in a 13 of 18 performance.
Game 6: COL wins 7-4. It’s four goals for the Stars in the second and another four-spot for the Avalanche in the third. Roope Hintz (2-2-4, 5 SOG); Ilya Lyubushkin and Wyatt Johnston –5. Oettinger 41 of 46 in the loss. Blackwood stops 22 of 26 in the win. Valeri Nichushkin scores twice and Cale Makar (1-2-3, +3, 6 Shots) has his best game. Nathan MacKinnon (1-2-3) strong again as he scores his sixth goal of the series.
Heading Into Game 7: DeBoer 8-0 in Game 7’s. Bednar 0-3 (all with Avalanche). COL haven’t won a Game 7 since 2002. Seven-straight losses would be an NHL record, that the Avalanche don’t want. Time to change that.
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