Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog: Doles out six hits in return
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Landeskog racked up six hits and a blocked shot in 13:16 of ice time in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.
Landeskog's return from missing three full regular seasons saw him fill a third-line role in Game 3. The 32-year-old led the game with six hits, and if he's to remain deeper in the lineup, it won't be surprising for him to continue to play physical. The offense could be another story, as he'll have to get his timing back and may end up with limited minutes to stay healthy. Fantasy managers looking to utilize Landeskog this postseason should temper their expectations for his production.
Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Earns assist in playoff debut
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Malinski notched an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.
This was Malinski's playoff debut after he sat out the first two games of the series in Dallas. He was still limited to 12:23 of ice time, but he was able to help out on a Valeri Nichushkin tally in the first period. Malinski had 15 points over 76 regular-season contests, but he earned three of those points over his last five outings of the campaign, so he may be able to build a little momentum if he stays in the lineup over Erik Johnson and Keaton Middleton.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Draws assist in loss
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Girard notched an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.
Girard set up a Valeri Nichushkin tally in the first period. The helper was Girard's second assist over three playoff contests, and he's added a plus-1 rating, three shots on net, four hits and two blocked shots. The 26-year-old blueliner continues to fill a bottom-four role with power-play time. He may continue to chip in depth offense but is unlikely to be a leader in that area for the Avalanche.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Nets lone goal in loss
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Nichushkin scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.
The goal was Nichushkin's first point of the series. He's added eight shots on net, six hits and a plus-1 rating over three contests. Nichushkin is locked in as a top-six winger, though his minutes could be threatened if Gabriel Landeskog can get up to full speed during the playoffs, assuming the Avalanche can turn things around after falling behind 2-1 in the series Wednesday.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Loses in overtime again
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Blackwood stopped 26 of 28 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.
Blackwood put in a good effort, but Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin were able to get the better of him to put the Stars ahead 2-1 in the series. Blackwood has allowed seven goals on 91 shots, so he's played well and just hasn't gotten the results to go his way in the last two contests. The Avalanche trust the 28-year-old to handle a starting role, so expect him back between the pipes for Saturday's Game 4 at home.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Out for Game 3
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Colton (lower body) won't play in Wednesday's Game 3 versus the Stars, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
While Colton will be out for a second straight game, the Avalanche will welcome back captain Gabriel Landeskog for this contest. Colton's next chance to play is Saturday in Game 4. When he's ready to return, Colton will likely bump Parker Kelly, Joel Kiviranta or Logan O'Connor out of the lineup.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: In goal for Game 3
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Blackwood will tend the twine at home versus the Stars in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Blackwood stopped 35 of 39 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 2, which allowed the Stars to tie the first-round series at 1-1. The 28-year-old Blackwood has handled a starting role for the Avalanche when healthy, and he'll have a chance to give them the upper hand again with the series shifting to home ice for this contest and Saturday's Game 4.
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Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog: Set to play in Game 3
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Landeskog (knee) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's Game 3 versus the Stars, Kyle Keefe of Altitude TV reports.
Landeskog was activated from injured reserve Monday but ultimately didn't suit up for Game 2. However, it looks like he's finally poised to rejoin the lineup after missing three full regular seasons. Landeskog is projected to make his return in a third-line role and should also be involved with one of the power-play units.
Drury scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 2.
Drury's tally tied the game at 2-2 just over a minute after Thomas Harley gave the Stars their first lead of the contest. The playoffs have been good to Drury so far -- he has two points and a plus-2 rating over two appearances this postseason despite playing in a fourth-line role. The Avalanche's strong center depth is likely to prevent him from moving up the lineup, but his steady defensive play could allow him to snag some extra shifts in key moments.
Steinburg has finally served his two-game suspension that was handed down back in October.
After getting hit with a two-game ban, Steinburg was relegated to the AHL for the rest of the regular season, making him ineligible to serve out his suspension. While the 24-year-old center is now technically available to suit up against Dallas in Game 3 on Wednesday, he figures to be the longest of shots to actually play in the postseason.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Beaten four times Monday
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Blackwood stopped 35 of 39 shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 2.
Blackwood was solid in his first career playoff appearance Saturday in Game 1, turning aside 23 of 24 shots en route to a 5-1 win, but he couldn't repeat that output in Game 2. He was beaten once in each period and later gave up the decider at the 17:46 mark of overtime. Blackwood has stopped 58 of the 63 shots he's faced in the first two games of the series, which is good for a .920 save percentage.
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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Nets PP goal Monday
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MacKinnon scored a power-play goal in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 2.
MacKinnon opened the scoring for the Avs midway through the first period with a wrister that went past Jake Oettinger at the 8:48 mark. He's scored two of his three goals during the series on the power play, and he's carrying his regular-season success into the playoffs once again. MacKinnon finished second in the regular season with 116 points (32 goals, 84 assists) over 79 appearances.
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Avalanche's Logan O'Connor: Two points in Game 2 loss
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O'Connor recorded a goal and an assist in Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars in Game 2.
O'Connor is enjoying a solid start to the postseason, as he was coming off a two-assist performance in the series opener Saturday. He has four points so far in the series, which is even more surprising considering he plays in the fourth line. Plus, he had only 21 points over 80 regular-season games, which marked his lowest scoring output in the last four years, and making this impressive start to the playoffs even more eye-popping.
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Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog: Late scratch Monday
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Landeskog is not suiting up against the Stars in Game 2 despite being activated off injured reserve Monday.
Landeskog took the ice for pregame warmups, but that appears to have been gamesmanship from head coach Jared Bednar. Avalanche freelance writer Adrian Dater reported Wednesday that Colorado would possibly wait until Game 3 to put Landeskog in the lineup, which would be his first appearance since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2021-22 season.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Not playing Monday
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Colton (lower body) will not be available Monday versus the Stars in Game 2, per the NHL media site.
Miles Wood, who was a healthy scratch in Game 1, will replace Colton in the lineup Monday. Colton's next chance to suit up will be at home Wednesday in Game 3.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Tending twine in Game 2
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Blackwood will defend the road cage Monday against the Stars in Game 2, according to Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine.
Blackwood was solid in his first career playoff appearance Saturday in Game 1, turning aside 23 of 24 shots en route to a 5-1 win. The Stars will presumably lay it all on the line Monday to avoid a 2-0 series deficit ahead of Game 3 in Colorado on Wednesday, but the absences of Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson due to knee injuries may be too much to overcome against a deep Avalanche squad.
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