Dater column: Time for Landeskog and Rantanen to step up

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – The Colorado Avalanche have a two games to one series lead over the Arizona Coyotes, and “home-ice advantage” still well in hand. Things have gone well so far here in Edmonton, and no team has ever gone 16-0 in the playoffs.

But I’m worried. I’m worried about the Coyotes having a 6-foot-5 horse in goal named Darcy Kuemper. I’m worried that the underdog Coyotes don’t seem at all fazed by their situation, that they’re the scrappy, feisty team with a hot goalie you always fear running into in the playoffs.

But the thing I’m most worried about? That would be the disappearing act so far by Avalanche captain, Gabe Landeskog, and the team’s highest-paid player, linemate Mikko Rantanen. Two-thirds of the Avalanche’s top line so far has been worth only half a loaf.