The colorado Avalanche are staring down the barrel of a must-win situation as they prepare for Game 4 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at Ball Arena. Down 2-1 in their opening-round playoff series, the Avs know the stakes: lose, and they face a daunting 3-1 deficit. Win, and it’s a brand-new best-of-three.
While the scoreboard says Colorado trails, the story on the ice has been razor-close. Both Game 2 and Game 3 ended in heartbreak — overtime losses decided by clutch goals from Colin Blackwell and Tyler Seguin. The Avalanche could easily be leading the series with just a bounce or break going their way.
That sets the stage for a critical Game 4, which will require Colorado’s best effort of the season. No more playing safe — it’s time for desperate hockey. The spotlight is on Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, who were held off the scoresheet in Game 3. Both will need to elevate their play and seize control of the series if the Avalanche are to fight back.
Avalanche Game 4 Lineup
Forwards:
Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas
Landeskog – Nelson – Nichushkin
Drouin – Coyle – Kiviranta
Kelly – Drury – O’Connor
Captain Gabriel Landeskog jumps to the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin, while Jonathan Drouin slides to the third line to spark more depth scoring. These tweaks offer potential flexibility, with Landeskog potentially shifting lines mid-game depending on the momentum.
Defense:
Toews – Makar
Lindgren – Manson
Girard – Malinski
Sam Malinski draws back into the lineup as Erik Johnson sits out, giving the Avalanche a more mobile back end to match the pace of Dallas. Devon Toews and Makar will continue to shoulder the lion’s share of the minutes, but expect key shifts from the second pair to tilt momentum.
Goaltending:
MacKenzie Blackwood
Blackwood has been a revelation in net and is expected to start again. He’s kept Colorado in every game, and Game 4 will likely demand another standout performance.
There’s no need to sugarcoat it — this is the Avalanche’s season hanging in the balance. With the home crowd behind them and their stars motivated, Colorado must deliver a complete, high-intensity effort. A win flips the script. A loss edges them toward elimination.
