Avalanche at Dallas Stars Game 2: An Opportunity to Take Control — Landeskog Returns? Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars play Game 2 of their first-round series at American Airlines Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:52 pm. MT.

Read More: Should The Avalanche Reunite Jonathan Drouin with Nathan MacKinnon?

The Avs are looking to take hold of this series after a commanding 5-1 victory in Game 1. They stole home-ice advantage on Saturday, but could really put themselves in the driver’s seat by winning this one before the series shifts to Denver.

Mackenzie Blackwood and Nathan MacKinnon were the stars of Game 1. Blackwood made 23 saves, including several game-changing stops right before an Avalanche goal. MacKinnon, who finished second in the NHL in points during the regular season, had two goals and an assist to lead the way. His power-play tally in the second period also ended up being the game-winner.

The Avs lost Ross Colton to injury and head coach Jared Bednar said after morning skate that Colton is feeling “not great.” That’s about the most you’ll get from Bednar this time of year. Given Colton’s absence from the optional skate and in the room, it’s safe to assume he won’t play Game 2.

If that’s the case, if Colton doesn’t play, it opens an opportunity for Gabriel Landeskog to slot in on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Joel Kiviranta.

Landeskog took part in the optional skate and didn’t stay on that long. The other option to take Colton’s place is Miles Wood, but he wasn’t on the ice at all. Bednar didn’t confirm if Landeskog will or will not play, but I’m starting to believe this is the day he finally plays.

Landeskog was activated off injury reserve after morning skate.

READ MORE: Good & Bad: Blackwood Shines in Playoff Debut, Avalanche Take Game 1

Meanwhile, things are a lot more chaotic on the Stars’ side. They shuffled their lineup in Game 1 and it didn’t work. Without Jason Robertson, head coach Pete DeBoer chose to continue to separate Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen, and it was ultimately a disaster. Rantanen was on the third line with Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn. The trio was on the ice for Devon Toews’ 3-1 tally in the third, had a -4 in shot differential in a game where the shots were an even 24-24. Rantanen finished with a -2 rating.

It’s unclear how they’ll deploy their lines tonight, but DeBoer did say he will make some changes. The projected lineup below mirrors what they used in Game 1.

The obvious decision would be to swap Evgenii Dadonov with Rantanen to try and create some magic with an all-Finnish trio on the top line. Perhaps that would also help Rantanen pick up his game. They can also entertain the idea of playing Matt Dumba ahead of Alexander Petrovic.

Jake Oettinger didn’t necessarily have a bad performance in Game 1, but they’ll need him to be a lot better against an Avalanche team that, on paper, clearly overmatches the Stars. Colorado’s superstars all being healthy and playing well is going to quickly become an issue if Oettinger can’t steal a game.

The Dallas netminder made 19 saves on Saturday.

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READ MORE: 10 Observations: Avalanche Sent a Message in Game 1 Rout of Stars (+)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Jonathan Drouin — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta — Charlie Coyle — Gabriel Landeskog (unconfirmed)
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Ryan Lindgren — Erik Johnson

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Projected Stars Lines (subject to change)

Mikael Granlund — Roope Hintz — Evgenii Dadonov
Mason Marchment — Matt Duchene — Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Mikko Rantanen
Oskar Back — Sam Steel — Mavrik Bourque

Esa Lindell — Cody Ceci
Thomas Harley — Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bischell — Alexander Petrovic

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
• Expected: Jake Oettinger (DAL)

Avalanche Injuries

• Ross Colton (lower body)

Stars Injuries

• Miro Heiskanen (knee, day-to-day)
• Jason Robertson (lower body, week-to-week)
• Nils Lundkvist (shoulder, out for season)

How to Watch

• TV: ESPN, 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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