The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars continue their series with a crucial Game 5 at American Airlines Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:50 pm MT.
Coming off two straight overtime losses and a tough 2-1 defeat in Gabe Landeskog’s return at Ball Arena, the Avalanche bounced back in Game 4 and imposed their will on the Stars. They dominated in every aspect. There’s no other way to look at it. All the underlying numbers confirm what the eye test showed. Colorado more than doubled the shots, tripled the scoring chances, and won 4-0.
But as we’ve seen throughout the series, it’s hard to carry over momentum from game to game. Simply put, I don’t think head coach Jared Bednar and his club are expecting anything more than a resounding response from Dallas. “Every game is going to be a little bit different, different challenges,” center Brock Nelson said. “Last night was a good showing by special teams, 5-on-5, we did a lot of great things. And it’s a cat and mouse. Everyone’s going to make adjustments. They’re going to watch and try to make adjustments. And we have to try and counter that as well and continue to build on the good things that we did.”
Nelson had two assists in what was far and away his best game of the series. Lined up with Valeri Nichushkin and Landeskog, that trio outshot the Stars 14-1 in nearly 10 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5. The Landeskog goal was great to witness, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the end-to-end rush from Nelson. If the Avs get more of that from their second line and added pressure from Nathan MacKinnon’s line, it’ll help them take command of the series before it shifts back to Colorado.
It doesn’t sound like any changes are coming to the Avs lineup for Game 5. Bednar said Ross Colton is getting better, but he’s not yet available to play. Colton, who suffered a lower-body injury in Game 1, has not yet begun skating.
The Stars need more from their stars. That’s the first step in correcting what didn’t work for them in Game 4. Matt Duchene has zero points in the series, Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz each have one, and Wyatt Johnston has two assists. It’s not enough. Even without Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, Pete DeBoer needs more production from these guys. Thomas Harley is the only skater on the team with three points. Everyone else has two or fewer.
Defensively, the Stars need to get back to doing what made them successful in the two OT games. They found a way to shut down Colorado’s offense to an extent and didn’t fall into a relentless push from the high-flying Avs like they did on Saturday. DeBoer is putting Oskar Back back into the series in place of Mavrik Bourque. In goal, Jake Oettinger gets the nod again after saving the Stars from further embarrassment in Game 4. Oettinger was pulled at the second intermission after surrendering three goals on 34 shots. It wasn’t because of his play; rather, DeBoer wanted to rest him for this game. Mackenzie Blackwood gets the nod again for the Avs.
Game 5 is pivotal, as the series is tied 2-2. Historically, the team that wins Game 5 in a series tied 2-2 has gone on to win the series 79% of the time. This statistic looms large as both teams look to take control of the series.
Looking ahead, the projected Avalanche lines show a strong offensive front with Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas leading the charge. Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, and Valeri Nichushkin will aim to continue their success from Game 4. Meanwhile, Jonathan Drouin, Charlie Coyle, and Joel Kiviranta will look to add depth scoring.
On the Stars’ side, Mikael Granlund, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen are expected to be the first line, while Mason Marchment, Matt Duchene, and Tyler Seguin will aim to provide the necessary firepower. Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston, and Evgenii Dadonov will also play critical roles in the outcome of this match.
The stakes couldn't be higher. The Stars, who have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, sit tied with the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the fewest goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coach DeBoer emphasized the need for his top players to step up, saying, “I don’t think any of our big guys have delivered yet in this series. But the beauty of this is it’s time now. This is money time.”
As the game unfolds, all eyes will be on the performances of players like Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the playoffs with three power-play goals and is tied for the lead with four goals overall. His ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities could be the key to swinging the momentum in favor of Colorado.
Meanwhile, the Stars will be looking for a bounce-back performance from Jake Oettinger, who has faced criticism after being pulled in Game 4. Oettinger will need to regain his confidence and deliver a strong performance to keep Dallas in contention.
As the puck drops, fans can expect an electric atmosphere at American Airlines Center. With both teams eager to take the lead in the series and a historical precedent favoring the winner of Game 5, the excitement is palpable.
Injuries continue to plague both teams. The Stars remain without Miro Heiskanen, who is day-to-day with a knee injury, while the Avalanche will miss Ross Colton, who is still recovering from a lower-body injury. Both coaches have expressed optimism about their players’ recoveries but have chosen to exercise caution in the playoffs.
As the series progresses, the question remains: which team will seize the moment and take a commanding lead? The answer lies in the performances of their star players and the adjustments made by the coaching staff. With everything on the line, Game 5 promises to be a thrilling showdown.
