Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Game 3: Series Shifts to Denver — Perfect Storm For Landeskog To Return? Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars continue their series with the first of two games at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:52 pm. MT.

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

The Avalanche had a golden opportunity to take control of the series in Game 2, but couldn’t close out the relentless late surge from the Dallas Stars. Pete DeBoer’s club made some midgame lineup changes and used that to gain all the momentum in the third period. They got the game-tying goal with 9:47 remaining and the game winner late in the first overtime period.

For the Avs, the loss means coming back to Denver knotted up at 1-1 instead of a 2-0 series lead. They still accomplished a goal of gaining home-ice advantage. If they hold court in both games this week, they’ll really put themselves in the drivers seat.

Only thing is, the Avalanche are 3-7 at home in the playoffs dating back to that crazy 7-0 victory over Tampa Bay in Game 2 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

They lost Game 5 at home, they were 1-3 against the Seattle Kraken, 2-0 against Winnipeg, and they lost all three games vs Dallas at Ball Arena in last year’s series.

Following their flight back to Denver on Tuesday morning, Jared Bednar met with media at the airport to recap the two-game trip. Thankfully, my flight back landed around the same time, so I was able to get there. Bednar said he’s looking to find a way to get the second line going offensively. He credited their ability to play a strong two-way game, but needs production at the other end from Valeri Nichushkin, Brock Nelson, and Jonathan Drouin.

Could we see a shakeup in the top six? “Possibly,” he said following morning skate. I’m willing to bet there will be changes. For starters, Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen swapped power-play spots, putting Lehkonen on the top unit and Nichushkin on the second unit.

Nichushkin joined Charlie Coyle, Nelson, Devon Toews, and … Gabriel Landeskog.

This could very well be the day Landeskog returns. He took part in the Avs’ pre-game warm-up donning the captain’s “C” ahead of Game 2 but did not dress in the game. Adding Landeskog to the lineup in front of a raucous Ball Arena crowd would be incredible.

Bednar said early Wednesday morning on Altitude Sports Radio that it’s likely Landeskog plays. But he wouldn’t commit to it after morning skate, which is common practice during the playoffs. Landeskog participated in the skate wearing burgundy second power-play unit colors, which would lean toward him returning.

“Just a good energy guy and obviously a leader,” Nelson said. “Means a lot to the fans and the the team here to see him back out there. Hopefully [he’ll] get into a game.”

Miles Wood would probably be the player to come out for Landeskog if this is the day he returns. I also asked Bednar if Ross Colton could eventually be available again in this series, and he said, “Possibly.”

Given how morning skate looked, it seems like Sam Malinski is going to enter the lineup in favor of Erik Johnson. Malinski would be paired with Ryan Lindgren in that scenario, putting Josh Manson back with his usual defense partner, Samuel Girard.

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

The Stars needed a change after their terrible Game 1 loss and they found it in the form of depth forward Colin Blackwell, who scored the overtime game-winning goal. DeBoer added Blackwell to the lineup in place of Mavrik Bourque and it paid off.

Among the other changes made, DeBoer shifted Mikko Rantanen from the Wyatt Johnston line to the top line. He formed a Finnish trio of Roope Hintz, Mikael Granlund, and Rantanen. The new line didn’t score, but they looked a lot better and will likely remain together for Game 3.

The biggest news coming out of Dallas is Miro Heiskanen joining them on the road. He took part and is getting closer, but he won’t dress in Game 3. DeBoer says the Stars will use the same lineup as Game 2.

Jake Oettinger is confirmed as the stater, and he’ll go up against Colorado’s likely starter Mackenzie Blackwood, continuing their battle between the pipes.

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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
Gabriel Landeskog — Charlie Coyle — Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Ryan Lindgren — Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Projected Stars Lines (subject to change)

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

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)
• Confirmed: 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

Playoff Series Head-to-Head

• Game 1 at Dallas Stars (W, 5-1 — Series: 1-0 COL)
• Game 2 at Dallas Stars (L, 4-3 OT — Series: 1-1)

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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