The Avalanche have a massive mountain to climb to avoid second-round exit

The Colorado Avalanche are in some trouble.

After dropping two straight to fall behind 2-1 in their second-round series against the Dallas Stars, the Avs were dealt massive blows. First, they learned that leading scorer Valeri Nichushkin was going to be suspended for a minimum of six months without pay for allegedly failing a drug test. Then, they were forced to play Game 4 on Monday also without defenseman Devon Toews.

The result was a dominant 5-1 win for the Stars and a subsequent, potentially fatal 3-1 series hole for Colorado. 

Now, the Avs have to win three straight games against the Stars in order to stave off elimination and keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. 

Not only is Colorado missing key players and not performing to expectations, but the Dallas Stars are playing their best hockey of the season. They are getting scoring from everywhere, excellent goaltending, and smothering any potential Avalanche attacks. 

Game 5 will be Wednesday night in Dallas.

Tyler Yaremchuk: You can look at the shot totals here [in Game 4], that doesn’t look bad: 34-25. It was 16-2 in the first period, and this Avs team has now been outscored 9-2 over their last two games. Their power play in the three losses [is] 0-8 as well. I don’t know if the Avs are going to have enough to rattle off three straight wins, especially against a Dallas team that is just so [dang] good. 

Frank Seravalli: I don’t know that they have enough on their best day, but then you throw in this Nichushkin sideshow and headache… Dallas is really good… My preseason and postseason Stanley Cup pick… I think they are the favorite in the west… Right now, the Stars are the team standing at the top of the mountain… I don’t see it for the Avs. Not this year. To think about where that team was… Everyone thought the Avs are the team to beat. And it’s really been Dallas. 

You can watch the full segment and episode here: