Colorado Prepares for Tough Game 5

After taking a 3-1 series lead over the Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, the Colorado Avalanche will look to close out the best-of-seven set on Wednesday afternoon.

The Avs had their best offensive output in the postseason in almost 20 years in Game 4, earning a 7-1 victory against the Yotes. It was the most goals the team has scored in a playoff contest since winning 8-2 against the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 4, 2002.

Nathan MacKinnon had two assists in the outing, and he has now notched a point in all seven Avalanche contests this postseason. MacKinnon, a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, is the first Avs player to start the playoffs with a point streak of at least seven games since Peter Forsberg (also seven) in 2003-04.

MacKinnon's streak is tied for the fifth longest in franchise history to begin a playoff year and is the longest in the NHL so far this postseason. It's also one game shy of his playoff career high that he set last year.

In addition to helping his team score, MacKinnon has been strong defensively and his compete level and desire to win has been on display on both ends of the ice in Round 1.

"I think that wanting to win drives him, that's what I think. He is a real good team guy, good leader, he wants to win," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said of MacKinnon. "When I talk about being the best, I am not talking about being the best individual player in the world or winning individual accolades, I think that's just icing on the cake if it happens. I think it's about wanting to win the trophy that we are all here to try and win, so that is what brings out the best in him, that and digging in for his teammates."

Going into the potential series-clinching contest, the Avalanche is expecting the Coyotes' best effort and will have to match their desperation to solidify a spot in the second round of the playoffs.

"I know how we are going to come out for Game 5. I think we might have got a little loose after Game 1 when we won that game 3-0, and regardless of how you win, we have to be hungry for Game 5," MacKinnon said after Monday's victory. "We are going to be desperate like we are down a game, so I am not sure how their mindset is going to be but it's not really our concern. We just have to all be ready too close them out in Game 5 and expect a tough one."

BURAKOVSKY UPDATE

Andre Burakovsky did not finish Monday's outing after blocking a shot early in the third period, but Bednar said on Tuesday that he should be able to play in Game 5.

"As far as Burakovsky goes, we don't have anything new to report. Basically, he took a shot, I think everyone saw it in the game," said Bednar. "He blocked a shot, he got it on the leg, and it was bothering him a bit at the end of the game so we sent him off and today he feels better and we will make a decision on him tomorrow. My feeling is that he will be good to go based on what I've seen in him this morning already."

Burakovsky had the primary assist on Joonas Donskoi's tally in the Game 4 victory and has recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in seven outings this postseason, tying his career high for scoring in a playoff year.

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS FOR GAME 5

Bednar mixed up his defensive pairings in Game 4, splitting up Erik Johnson and Samuel Girard, a pairing that has been together for most of the previous two seasons.

Johnson skated with Nikita Zadorov while Girard began the game with Ian Cole. Colorado's third defensive duo of Ryan Graves and Cale Makar stayed intact for the contest.

"I think it will stay the same for tomorrow. It wasn't permanent, we bounced those guys around quite a bit on the backend, but yesterday we decided to put Cole with Girard just because we have kind of thought that coming out of Game 3 that Johnson and Girard spent a little bit too much time in their D-zone," said Bednar. "Looking back at their games as individuals, kind of thought both guys were pretty good, but the results were the results and spending a little bit too much time in your zone is not always a good thing.

"So, we decided we'd just mix it up a little bit with Cole in there and that kind of for me yesterday helped. Zadorov and E.J. were both good, and Cole and Girard were good as well. We will play it by ear and probably go the same way tomorrow. But again, you still saw E.J. playing with Girard and Cole with Z yesterday as well--just depends on the situation and time and score of the game."