Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars (7:30 p.m.)

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 powerplay, 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 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)

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 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)

Jake Oettinger (29)

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