The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars open their first-round series at American Airlines Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:55 pm. MT.
Read More: Round 1 Preview: Avalanche vs Stars — The Storylines Are Endless
The playoffs are finally here. And so is Gabriel Landeskog.
Well, kind of.
The Avalanche’s captain took part in morning skate but remained on the ice well beyond most of his teammates. It’s a sign that Jared Bednar might not play him in Game 1, albeit the head coach wouldn’t commit either way.
“I’m not gonna give you guys any lineup stuff the whole series,” said Bednar. He was also noncommittal about who would start in goal, although it’ll likely be Mackenzie Blackwood.
If Landeksog plays, it would be his first NHL game since June 26, 2022. The most likely scenario is leaning toward him not playing. But if he does, perhaps we would see him replace either Parker Kelly or Joel Kiviranta.
Colorado ended its regular season last Sunday and has had nearly an entire week to prepare for a first-round collision with the Dallas Stars.
The team practiced on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday before flying to Dallas. With 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goalies, the Avs are fully healthy and ready to kick off what they’re hoping will be a long playoff run.
With the exception of a possible Landeskog return, the lines are all expected to remain the same as they were a few weeks ago. That means Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas are back with Nathan MacKinnon, while a returning Jonathan Drouin rejoins the second line with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin.
Both Ryan Lindgren and Josh Manson are back, too, which means either Erik Johnson or Sam Malinski will play on the right side of the third pair.
Blackwood will likely make his long-awaited postseason debut in what could be the best series of the first round.
READ MORE: Flynn’s Take: What Makes Avs Head Coach Jared Bednar Successful
Dallas probably isn’t feeling quite as good as Colorado heading into the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean Pete DeBoer’s veteran group is going to lie down and let this game slip away easily.
The Stars will begin the postseason without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen or top-line left winger Jason Robertson. They also enter the series winless in their last seven games (0-5-2) and have allowed the most shots and have the highest expected goals against since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
On the brighter side, the news coming out of morning skate was promising in regards to Heiskanen. He skated with the team briefly, and DeBoer said the superstar blueliner is now considered day to day.
Mikko Rantanen will skate on the top line with fellow Finnish countrymen Roope Hintz and, potentially, Mikael Granlund. It’s his first playoff appearance not in an Avalanche uniform as he suits up against his former club.
On the blueline, Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley are expected to carry the load without Heiskanen.
Jake Oettinger gets the nod between the pipes.
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READ MORE: More Than Teammates: Inside the Friendship of Valeri Nichushkin and Mackenzie Blackwood (+)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas Jonathan Drouin — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin Joel Kiviranta — Charlie Coyle — Ross Colton
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale Makar Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Ryan Lindgren — Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Mikael Granlund — Roope Hintz — Mikko Rantanen Mason Marchment — Matt Duchene — Tyler Seguin Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Evgenii Dadonov
Oskar Back — Sam Steel — Mavrik Bourque
Esa Lindell — Cody Ceci Thomas Harley — Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bischell — Matt Dumba
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
- Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
- Confirmed: Jake Oettinger (DAL)
- Miro Heiskanen (knee, day-to-day)
- Jason Robertson (lower body, week-to-week)
- Nils Lundkvist (shoulder, out for season)
- TV: TNT, tru TV, Altitude Sports (locally)
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Regular Season Head-to-Head
- Nov. 29 at Dallas Stars (L, 5-3)
- Jan. 18 vs Dallas Stars (W, 6-3)
- March 16 vs Dallas Stars (W, 4-3 OT)
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