Series Talk: WCQF Dallas Stars (C2) vs Colorado Avalanche (C3) | Stars lead 2-1

[forsbergavs32]

We’ve pretty much known our opponent for a couple weeks but now it’s officially official. The Colorado Avalanche will face the Dallas Stars in round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Leading Scorers and Goalie Stats



1. Mikko Rantanen - 87 points
2. Matt Duchene - 81 points
3. Jason Robertson - 80 points

Jake Oettinger - GAA: 2.48 SV%: .912



1. Nathan MacKinnon - 116 points
2. Cale Makar - 92 points
3. Martin Necas - 82 points

Mackenzie Blackwood - GAA: 2.55 SV%: .912

Season Series:

11/29: Stars won 5-3
1/18: Avs won 6-3
3/16: Avs won 4-3 (OT)

Key Factors for the Avs

- Can Blackwood prove himself in the playoffs?
- Can Landeskog make an impact on the ice if he plays
- Can the depth help take the load off the top dogs?
- Most importantly, can the Avs finally slay a DeBoer coached team?​

 

[Richard88]

Lehkonen - Mackinnon - Necas
Drouin - Nelson - Nichushkin
Landeskog - Coyle - Colton
Kelly - Drury - O'Connor
Kiviranta, Wood, Vesey

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Lindgren - EJ
Middleton - Malinski

Blackwood
Wedgewood

PP1:

---------- Landeskog --------
Mackinnon - Necas - Drouin
------------- Makar -----------

PP2:

----------- Nichushkin --------------
Coyle ------ Lehkonen ----- Nelson
-------------- Girard -----------------

 

[forsbergavs32]

Lehkonen - Mackinnon - Necas
Drouin - Nelson - Nichushkin
Landeskog - Coyle - Colton
Kelly - Drury - O'Connor
Kiviranta, Wood, Vesey

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Lindgren - EJ
Middleton - Malinski

Blackwood
Wedgewood

PP1:

---------- Landeskog --------
Mackinnon - Necas - Drouin
------------- Makar -----------

PP2:

----------- Nichushkin --------------
Coyle ------ Lehkonen ----- Nelson
-------------- Girard -----------------

Looking at that, I really wish Bednar would take Girard off PP2 and replace him with Malinski. Another RHS and more offense

 

[Vaslof]

Old Avs vs New Avs

 

[MacKaRtin]

Looking at that, I really wish Bednar would take Girard off PP2 and replace him with Malinski. Another RHS and more offense

It's Toews that's the PP2 QB, chart is incorrect

 

[MacKaRtin]

Honestly, thing I'm worried about the most this series is Benn or Marchment hindering us for later rounds with their usual cheap shots

 

[sethro109]

My only real concerns are Malinski and EJ. Some slight concern for Blackwood too, but I'm still more confident in him, than I was last year heading into the post season with George. I would also put Kivi over Kelly. Kelly is more defensively sound, but I would like some extra depth scoring there.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

If they can't beat the Stars without Heiskanen then they were pretenders anyway and no run was happening.

Avs even get more time to rest before the series. The Stars haven't really played inspired hockey for a while either. No excuses.

 

[Raucherhusten]

That Duchene fella looks pretty dope. Huge mistake trading his beautiful
face back in the days ...

Kick me if you can!

 

[Avs2022]

Looking at that, I really wish Bednar would take Girard off PP2 and replace him with Malinski. Another RHS and more offense

I agree. Girard does the same sh*t every time. Goes down left side by faceoff circle, cycles a little halfway back, passes it back to the point. The if he gets the puck back takes a ahot that either misses the net or gets blocked.

EVERYTIME. Put in Malinski on PP2

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Lehkonen - Mackinnon - Necas
Drouin - Nelson - Nichushkin
Landeskog - Coyle - Colton
Kelly - Drury - O'Connor
Kiviranta, Wood, Vesey

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Lindgren - EJ
Middleton - Malinski

Blackwood
Wedgewood

PP1:

---------- Landeskog --------
Mackinnon - Necas - Drouin
------------- Makar -----------

PP2:

----------- Nichushkin --------------
Coyle ------ Lehkonen ----- Nelson
-------------- Girard -----------------

Not sure I am ready to say Landeskog is ready for PP1 time over Nuke just yet. Even with the tip in goal last night with the Eagles the fact Nuke has such a good shot as well I feel makes him more dangerous. Let's see where Gabe is after a game or two at NHL speed first.

 

[Bensch88]

Bring

Em

On

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

As long as players stay healthy, I think we will win. LETS GO !

 

[Balthazar]

@forsbergavs32 IMO playoff polls shouldn't be anonymous, it's fun to see who voted for what...especially when fans from other teams start voting.

Other than that it's nice that the poll is closing before game 1, this is often overlooked by OP.

 

[niwotsblessing]

FvCK the stars.

 

[The Pwnerer]

This is it. We knew this was coming. On one hand, I'm very glad we get this matchup because you just got a feeling if they can get this monkey off their backs, we may see a big run coming. On the other hand, stakes are so high early on that if things go south it'll be really sad. This one just feels so different then the past two playoffs. Make or break time.

I just know with all the positivity surrounding this team, we will see a team flying game 1. Something we haven't seen the past few weeks. Makar and Mackinnon will want revenge. I hope that Marchment play kicking Mack's stick is permanently etched in his brain. I want revenge in the worst possible way.

I've been following the Stars board for awhile. This is a vulnerable squad, mainly due to the defense. No Miro, no Tanev, no cheap shot Suter. Seems they have been generally malcontent with their play over the past month or so. Outshot the majority of games. But two things seem to keep them afloat. Ridiculous finishing ability and an above average powerplay.

 

[RECKLESS]

What a matchup, with the 1st round explosiveness and storylines, this could turn into a truly legendary series. Gonna be like a little kid again watching. Go Avs Gooooo!!

 

[xAvsx89]

I can't take another L to the Stars... Avs in 6.

 

[dahrougem2]

Avs in 5

 

[katfude]

f*** Dallass. 0 cups for Dutchy.

Benn and Marchment can pre-emptively suck a whole 5 gallon bucket of farts

 

[flyfysher]

f*** Dallass. 0 cups for Dutchy.

Benn and Marchment can pre-emptively suck a whole 5 gallon bucket of farts

On the Stars forum, one of their posters suggested Duchene might be open to signing another $3M contract when they were bemoaning their cap situation. I don’t think so but hey, maybe?

 

[dahrougem2]

On the Stars forum, one of their posters suggested Duchene might be open to signing another $3M contract when they were bemoaning their cap situation. I don’t think so but hey, maybe?

He seems to be very willing to sign below market value for Dallas

 

[flyfysher]

He seems to be very willing to sign below market value for Dallas

Maybe. But signing another $3M 1 year contract with Dallas seems a little far fetched to me. Being what, 34 years old? Seems like he’d want to maximize his earnings especially with the cap going up. I’d also think he’d want term given his age. Given the market for 2Cs, I wouldn’t take it as a given that he’ll re-up for cheap. And wasn’t he one of their top scorers? Is that how the organization treats players that it needs?

 

[AvsMakar08]

What is so attractive about living in Dallas? There is no ocean there. Probably a bunch of Cowboys on the road. Maybe they have that country music that Duchene loves.

 

[UnkleKraker]

Avs in 3. Stars relegated to the ECHL. Book it.