MAY 13•NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Avalanche hope to rediscover offense in Game 4 vs. StarsThe Colorado Avalanche entered Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the most goals in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs,...
Stout Stars defense corps presents Avalanche with tougher challenge in second roundColorado expected a long, grueling series against Winnipeg, but the Avalanche know this is going to be one with the Dallas Stars.
MAY 12•DENVERPOST.COM
Devon Toews - Pockets assist in lossToews posted an assist, five shots on goal and two hits in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Stars in Game 3.
ImpactToews helped out on a Mikko Rantanen tally in the second period. The helper was Toews' first point over three appearances in the second round. The defenseman is up to six points, 15 shots on net, 14 hits, eight blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through eight playoff contests. He continues to play on the top pairing, which gives him plenty of ice time with the Avalanche's top players.
MAY 12•ROTOWIRE
Nathan MacKinnon - Lends helper in lossMacKinnon supplied an assist, three shots on goal, two hits and a minus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Stars in Game 3.
ImpactMacKinnon was silenced in Game 2, ending an eight-game point streak. The 28-year-old was able to contribute the primary assist on Mikko Rantanen's goal in Game 3, though the Avalanche did little else on offense. MacKinnon is up to 12 points, 34 shots on net and a plus-2 rating through eight playoff contests, with six of his points coming on the power play.
MAY 12•ROTOWIRE
Mikko Rantanen - Scores lone goal in Game 3 lossRantanen scored a goal on four shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Stars in Game 3.
ImpactRantanen tied the game at 1-1 in the second period, but the Avalanche couldn't build on his goal. The winger was held off the scoresheet for the first time in the playoffs in Game 2, but he bounced back well. He's produced three goals, nine assists, 21 shots on net, 14 hits, 11 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating over eight postseason appearances in a top-line role.
MAY 12•ROTOWIRE
Alexandar Georgiev - Takes another lossGeorgiev surrendered two goals on 21 shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Stars in Game 4. The last two goals were empty-netters.
ImpactGeorgiev played better than the final score would indicate, but the Stars' overall game was too much for the Avalanche to handle. He's now lost consecutive contests for the first time this postseason. The 28-year-old is 5-3 with a 2.97 GAA and an .893 save percentage over eight playoff contests -- which is fairly similar to how he performed in the regular season. The Avalanche's offense is strong enough to avoid asking Georgiev to steal games, but he will need to be just a bit sharper in Monday's Game 4 to avoid putting his team on the brink of elimination.
MAY 12•ROTOWIRE
Sam Steel - Posts assist in Game 3 winSteel logged an assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Avalanche in Game 3.
ImpactSteel has just two assists to go with eight shots on net and 15 hits through 10 playoff outings. He's exceeded 14 minutes of ice time in four straight games despite being listed on the Stars' fourth line. Steel is far from a reliable scorer, but he appears to have the trust of head coach Pete DeBoer to handle a versatile depth role during the postseason.
MAY 12•ROTOWIRE
