Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Game 4: Landeskog Promotion — Will It Work? Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars continue their series with the second of two games at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:55 pm. MT.

Read More: Landeskog Earns ‘Remarkable’ Promotion Ahead of Crucial Game 4 For Avalanche

In the matter of 48 hours, the series shifted from one where the Avs could really get ahead to one in which this game suddenly becomes a must-win. Colorado dropped its second straight in this series on Wednesday, and it did so similarly to Game 2 — in overtime.

Just like that game, the Avalanche had a power play entering OT. But unlike that game, it was a double-minor penalty, which meant an extended power play. The Stars killed 3:21 of a PP and scored a couple of minutes later on a play that started with Mikko Rantanen beating Jonathan Drouin in a battle for puck possession.

Tyler Seguin ended up scoring.

That was one of probably many reasons why head coach Jared Bednar is shaking up his top six. Drouin started the series on the Brock Nelson line before being elevated to Nathan MacKinnon’s line in an attempt to shake up the top six.

But now, Drouin has been demoted to the third line and will play with Charlie Coyle and Joel Kiviranta. Replacing him in the top six will be Gabe Landeskog, who gets a promotion after impressing the coaching staff in his return.

Landeskog practiced with Valeri Nichushkin and Nelson on Friday. Artturi Lehkonen rejoined the top line with Martin Necas and MacKinnon.

“Well, it’s remarkable, really. When you think about the time he’s been away, and then you see the way he played the other night, I thought he was incredible under those circumstances,” Bednar said of his captain.

Landeskog also practiced on the top power-play unit. Drouin was demoted to the second PP.

Mackenzie Blackwood will continue to lead the team in goal. No other changes will be made, meaning Sam Malinski remains in the lineup after replacing Erik Johnson for Game 3.

READ MORE: Flynn’s Takes From Game 3: Avs’ Issues and How to Fix Them

The Stars are being led by their veterans more than anything. It’s not Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and Rantanen doing the scoring. It’s Jamie Benn and Seguin. They were the two that scored in Game 3.

Bednar felt the Avs had their best defensive game of the series on Wednesday. But the Stars are also doing a great job protecting their goal. And when chances get by, Jake Oettinger is there to save the day.

Dallas has scored four of the last five goals in the series, stretching back to the start of the third period in Game 2.

If the Avalanche want to even this series, they’ll need to get going at even strength. And they’ll need more from Cale Makar.

“He’s probably struggling a little bit in the series on the offensive side of it,” Bednar said of Makar. “We had some guys that beat up the puck pretty good the other night. It’s part of the reason why I think our power play wasn’t as good as it could have been.

“Listen, I trust in Cale. He’s had a bad game here or there before and bounced back. He was still competitive, defended hard. We didn’t limit the scoring chances like that without all of our ‘D’ and forwards committing to it and playing hard.”

 Dallas Stars top defenseman Miro Heiskanen remains out.

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READ MORE: 10 Observations: Gabriel Landeskog’s Return Was Spoiled By Dallas — But It Was Still Memorable (+)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Jonathan Drouin — 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 Bichsel — Alexander Petrovic

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Confirmed: 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: TBS & tru TV, 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)
• Game 3: vs Dallas Stars (L, 2-1 OT — Series: 2-1 DAL)
• Game 4: vs Dallas Stars (Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 pm MT)
• Game 5: at Dallas Stars (Monday, April 28 at 7:30 pm MT)
• Game 6: vs Dallas Stars (Thursday, May 1, if necessary)
• Game 7 at Dallas Stars (Saturday, May 3, if necessary)

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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