Game 4 could decide the series. Colorado will have to figure out whether they want to go out with a whimper or give Dallas absolute hell.
Do you believe in magic?
The Colorado Avalanche need some of those vibes as they prepare to take on the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 4 of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
Here’s the bottom line: Colorado is the talented, flashy team. On the other end of the ice is Dallas, where you have a good mix of defensive acumen, old-school grit, and skill.
And it’s the hard-nosed mentality that has been bruising and bloodying the Avalanche in this series thus far. Say what you want about Jamie Benn and Mason Marchment being “dirty players.” What’s the best way to stop a bully? It’s easier said than done, but you smack them back and ensure they know you’re about business. This writer was, at one point in their life, the bully. Then came a moment when the opposing team, led by a sergeant from the Yuma Police Department, sent out one of their big guys to send a message. It was received loud and clear.
Although the Stars are missing a good number of their core players, they have still managed to outplay the Avalanche for most of this series. It’s inexcusable. We’ve seen some questionable tactics, but if there isn’t any defiance, what’s to stop Dallas from continuing to push our guys around? Poor Brock Nelson got banged up in Game 3 and was bleeding down the stretch. Someone should have paid for that. That’s what old-school hockey is all about. The morale of the club spoke volumes in overtime. There were 3:20 left of a double-minor penalty, and we couldn’t manage to do anything but grimace?
As P.K. Subban stated on ESPN while debating how hockey differs from other sports, “You have to be willing to fight.”
One player who understood the mission was Cale Makar. He hasn’t been at his best this postseason, but to his credit, he provided the blueprint in Game 3 when Marchment closed in on him against the boards. Boom. Reverse hit right in the jaw. Marchment left him alone after that. We need to see more.
Same Lines — Sort Of
This is a must-win game. Fans who were clamoring for some significant line changes will be disappointed. The only change is that Gabriel Landeskog, who made his first NHL start since Game Six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, has been moved to the second line.
If that’s the only significant move we’re making, it makes it even more important to be intelligently aggressive. This is reminiscent of a flashy fighter with defensive lapses going up against a skilled counterpuncher who isn’t going to overwhelm you with flash, but they’ll nail you where it hurts, and more often than not, you won’t see it coming. The punches you don’t see are the ones that always hurt the most. And this Colorado team, despite their offensive prowess, has been prone to making defensive turnovers all season. It has been an issue, and at times, like what we’ve seen these past two games, they get outplayed and outmuscled.
This game could decide the series. The Avs have to decide whether they want to go out with a whimper or go down with a fight. We should choose the latter. If you’re sick of losing to the same team every year, let those hands go.
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images