Aarif Deen
With their backs against the wall, the Colorado Avalanche continue their Western Conference Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 pm MT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Key Stories to Watch
- Colorado finds itself on the brink of elimination for the first time all season. After falling in Game 3, there was a sense of sadness in the locker room, which carried a little bit into Monday morning’s off-day availabilities. That wasn’t the case Tuesday morning. It feels like the Avalanche are more focused on the task at hand, to just win one game.
- Nathan MacKinnon will play tonight, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed. MacKinnon is feeling a lot better after blocking a shot with his knee late in the second period two nights prior. Bednar is confident he’ll be able to use MacKinnon normally, rather than picking his spots as he did in the third period of Game 3.
- Valeri Nichushkin is a game-time decision. Bednar said, “We’ll see,” when asked about Nichushkin’s status. The veteran forward did not play in the third period of Game 3 due to a lower-body injury. If he doesn’t play, expect to see Joel Kiviranta back in the lineup.
- Mackenzie Blackwood will get the nod in goal, entering the series for the first time. Blackwood started in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild before getting pulled for giving up three goals. Bednar credited Blackwood for working on off days to feel looser and more confident entering the series at such a critical point.
Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)
Artturi Lehkonen— Nathan MacKinnon — Gabriel Landeskog
Nazem Kadri — Brock Nelson — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Nic Roy — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Projected Golden Knights Lines (subject to change)
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner
Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons — Mark Stone
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Dylan Coghlan — Kaedan Korczak
Carter Hart
Adin Hill
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Confirmed: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
- Expected: Carter Hart (VGK)
Avalanche Injuries
- Valeri Nichushkin (lower-body, game-time decision)
Golden Knights Injuries
- Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed)
How to Watch
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Playoff Series Head-to-Head
- Game 1 vs Vegas Golden Knights (L, 4-2 — VGK leads series 1-0)
- Game 2 vs Vegas Golden Knights (L, 3-1 — VGK leads series 2-0)
- Game 3 at Vegas Golden Knights (L, 5-3 — VGK leads series 3-0)
- Game 4 at Vegas Golden Knights (May 26 at 7 pm MT)
- Game 5 vs Vegas Golden Knights (May 28 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
- Game 6 at Vegas Golden Knights (May 30 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
- Game 7 vs Vegas Golden Knights(June 1 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
Regular Season Head-to-Head
- Oct. 31 at Vegas Golden Knights (W, 4-2)
- Dec. 27 at Vegas Golden Knights (W, 6-5 SO)
- April 11 vs Vegas Golden Knights (L 3-2, OT)
Overall Playoff Results
- R1, G1 vs Los Angeles Kings (W, 2-1)
- R1, G2 vs Los Angeles Kings (W, 2-1 OT)
- R1, G3 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 4-2)
- R1, G4 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 5-1)
- R2, G1 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 9-6)
- R2, G2 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 5-2)
- R2, G3 at Minnesota Wild (L, 5-1)
- R2, G4 at Minnesota Wild (W, 5-2)
- R2, G5 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 4-3 OT)
- R3, G1 vs Vegas Golden Knights (L, 4-2)
- R3, G2 vs Vegas Golden Knights (L, 3-1)
- R3, G3 at Vegas Golden Knights (L, 5-3)