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Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche | THW 2024 NHL Playoff Preview Show
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May 7, 2024
In the latest 2024 NHL Playoff Preview show, host Matthew Zator welcomes in Stefano Rubino and Jacob Strozyk to set up the upcoming second round series of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. 0:00 Intro 1:05 Avalanche's' Journey to the 2nd Round 2:56 Stars' Journey to the 2nd Round 5:15 Storylines to Follow 8:46 Stars Players to Watch 10:49 Avalanche Players to Watch 12:42 Keys to Victory For the Avalanche 13:34 Keys to Victory For the Stars 15:30 X-Factors 18:10 Series MVP 20:44 Predictions For The Series Check out Stefano and Jacob's writing: Stefano Rubino - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/srubino/ Jacob Strozyk - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/jstrozyk/ Subscribe to The Hockey Writers Substack - https://thehockeywriters.substack.com/subscribe
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0:00
Hello, everybody, and welcome into another preview show here at the Hockey Rangers YouTube channel
0:07
I'm your host, Matthew Zotora, and we are doing the Dallas Stars and the Colorado
0:11
Avalanche second round series here. And it was a little bit in, I mean, at the beginning with the color, especially for Colorado
0:19
it was a little in doubt. I mean, that first game was a little insane is probably a simple word for it, I guess
0:26
It was pretty crazy. but then the avalanche went on and just basically dismantled the Winnipeg Jets
0:34
I mean, their goaltending, Hellebuck was not very good, and everyone is anticipating the other way around
0:42
Gorgiev being the one that was going to have a problem, but he kind of settled down throughout the rest of the series
0:48
And then over to the Dallas Stars, they also started off the series pretty rough
0:52
They lost the first two games, but then rattled off four out of five wins
0:57
and then kind of just, yeah, silence the Golden Knights. I mean, they did go to game seven
1:02
but that's because there was those two wins at the beginning. So I'll start with you, Stefano, on that series
1:09
What were your takeaways from it? You know, I mean, the avalanche pretty much fixed themselves, I guess
1:16
after that first game. But what are your thoughts on that series
1:20
I mean, I absolutely agree. Come game one, I thought it was nothing that I even expected to see in a game
1:26
I did not see the 7-6 even happening close. I thought 7-6 would be the first couple goals in the first two games
1:32
But I was very worried. Gorgiev did not play well ourselves. The defense did not play well in front of him, which many looked over
1:38
But coming through game two to five, it was just a steadily increase of this is a team that's mainly full of players back from the 22 championships
1:49
Georgiab really stepped back up, which is something that I'm really glad to see that it wasn't mainly him
1:54
just having to be hauled around and having the two championships. the avalanche score five plus goals, which they did, but he definitely stepped up, finishing
2:00
with over 900, say, percentage. It's something that I was very shocked and very looking forward to seeing more into the second
2:07
round of being confidence of having good, reliable goal-tending as well to back up what we're
2:12
known for already in having this fast-paced game and scoring a bunch of goals
2:17
Yeah, I mean, the avalanche looked pretty much like the avalanche from the regular season
2:22
from, you know, they started becoming that more offensive juggernaut that we were used to seeing
2:27
McKinnon and McCar and all that. So, yeah, it was an interesting first game
2:33
I mean, the Jets just didn't look right. I mean, throughout the rest
2:37
I mean, they were one of the best defensive teams in the NHL and they didn't look at all
2:42
And Hellebuck also looked human. He didn't look like the Vesna trophy winner, which he'll probably win the Vesna
2:47
It's not on playoff performance. It's on the regular season. So, yeah, well, we'll see what Holly Avalanche doing the next one as we're going to talk about
2:56
Jacob, just before that, talk about the stars in that first round series
3:01
I mean, yes, there was doubt at the beginning. It looked like the Golden Knights. We're looking like the Golden Knights of Old, where they're, you know, good in the playoffs
3:08
But then the stars kind of, again, fixed themselves and started playing like the stars from the regular season
3:14
What were your takeaways from that series? Yeah, it was definitely a rough start
3:19
people were definitely get a little bit worried being like, oh, man, they're going to blow it
3:24
They had this kind of momentum going into the postseason being like, they're one of the best teams in the West
3:30
They really have this big scoring momentum going into that. And they have this hope that Ottinger is going to get to his playoff caliber goaltending that they're really hoping that he could do, which ultimately he did
3:46
He put up his playoff caliber numbers. he got away from his regular season goaltending numbers, which were very average
3:53
and he got to those stellar numbers that everybody was hoping he would get to
3:57
So that was great. But the worry at the start was that things were going to taper off
4:02
And it was nice to see them pull it together. Everything kind of locked down
4:06
And the series went from things could get out of hand to, you could almost argue boring in a sense that things were really defensively oriented
4:15
There wasn't a lot of high scoring. there wasn't a lot of entertaining, huge, big plays going on
4:21
Everything was kind of just chip and chase, big hits, move along the boards
4:27
It was just a tight-knit series all around, and everything was just hard fought and just big-bodied
4:33
It wasn't a wide-open, high-scoring series by any means. So, you know, it was tough through and through, and I think it warmed down a little bit
4:44
I think it'll be interesting to see how they play Colorado. going into the second round
4:50
Yeah, I mean, the stars, they kind of played that real like Nashville Canucks
4:54
said they were going through. I had the zero-zero game forever and that won and, you know
5:00
the Golden Knights pulled it out two nothing in game six. And then the stars winning in game seven, again, a very low-scoring game
5:07
So it is and, you know, some of the guys really stepped up and we'll talk about them
5:12
in a bit here. Let's talk about some storylines in this series
5:16
which is stars avalanche probably i maybe everyone kind of maybe anticipating this as being a
5:23
second round matchup because you know the stars first in the central avalanche third in the central
5:28
maybe that's anticipating the jets were there but it's not really surprised these two teams are
5:33
there here so stephano what um what things are you following in this series as we going in here i mean this is going to be an interesting one obviously this is the first time they meeting since the 2020 playoffs in that second round up to game seven There going to be a lot of matchups
5:49
Valerie Nishushchev, obviously from Dallas, Matthew Shane, from Colorado. These are teams that have know each other very well
5:56
Obviously, we have Joel Givirontan now on our side, so hopefully he could pull off that
6:01
game seven for us. But for the storylines, I'm really hoping to see if the glacier could continue that
6:05
momentum off the round one. I think that was the most shocking round one easily
6:09
I think everyone like myself and Edwin say that this is a six, seven game series
6:14
not super high scoring as we all thought of. I want to be able to see if we can continue writing that high of that five-game underdog
6:22
and the betting line just came up. We are plus 135 to be continuing to be the underdog
6:28
which is, again, it could be something. I don't know what they're thinking
6:32
but obviously I want to continue writing that high of being the underdog
6:36
and using all of this doubt on us to continue it to round too? Yeah, I mean, Avalanche is kind of interesting
6:43
having them as the underdog because there's such a strong team, but the stars have been one of the best teams in the league
6:49
they are, the Western Conference champion. So from the regular season. Jacob, what storylines are you looking for
6:56
for the stars going in here? I think it's going to be more along the lines of can
7:03
can they maintain and regal, and regather themselves? Can they, you know, hunker down and really bring themselves back up to
7:13
where they were during the regular season? Do they really have that confidence back in themselves
7:18
to be the top team that they really were? Because they were struggling right out the gate. So
7:26
their top players weren't playing like top players. Like they have zero points out of Joe Pavelski
7:32
They have one point out of Thomas Harley. They have. have one point out of Rupa hints and they are struggling to get points out of some of these
7:41
big time players. So, you know, it's the storyline is really going to be, can those big time players come back
7:48
and rise up to the occasion again? Are they going to be able to be the production type guys that need to show up in these types
7:57
of games because it's crunch time? The avalanche or no joke, they have the star power more than just about any other team
8:04
in this league. and they're going to have a lot of things getting thrown at them
8:08
Jake Anjure is only going to be able to do so much. He is still a great goaltender
8:12
but he's not going to be able to stop an onslaught that's just going to be thrown at him night after night after night
8:19
So can the defense still stop them, but can the forwards and the other stars on the other end of the stars
8:25
top end produce like they're supposed to again? That's where I'm going to be following
8:31
Yeah, it was interesting to see Joel Pavelski not. not be a big factor because he's always he always is we talked about him the first
8:39
the first round preview so we'll see if he can do it again well i'll keep going on that
8:45
who are you watching in this series jacob with uh with the stars is it is it those stars i just
8:51
not pardon the pun stars uh is it the pevelsky guys or i mean like guys like why johnston
8:57
stepped up i think he has what he had four goals in the series at the end three or four i who are you
9:04
watching here. Yeah, definitely looking at the kid, Wyatt Johnson. He had four goals, seven points
9:10
I led the team in both categories. So he's definitely somebody who's going to be on everybody's
9:16
radar, keeping an eye on him. He's definitely somebody up top. Jason Robertson is somebody
9:21
you can always keep an eye on. But somebody I think is flying under the radar just because he's not
9:28
scoring points doesn't mean he's not having an impact. And that's Chris Tanev. He's playing outstanding
9:33
defensively right now. And he's just been an absolute lockdown type defenseman for the stars on the back end
9:40
So shutting down anything that the avalanche have to throw at them is just going to be
9:45
absolutely key, especially in big type situations, whether it be a power play or whether it be
9:51
just late in the game, having TANF out there to be locking things down and just really
9:57
really being that shutdown type player that he needs to be. He's a plus six with no points
10:02
So he doesn't need to. to be producing to still be an impact type player right now
10:07
And that's something that the stars really, really need him to be. So between Tanev, and I can even throw in another player, I could argue, Asselandelle
10:18
who played a big role in the game seven as well. He's somebody that you can throw in there on the defensive end
10:24
I think defense in general is just going to be a big part of the stars, kind of overall vibe for this type of a series
10:33
Yeah, Tanna is, well, he was acquired for that reason to be, to solidify that
10:41
And he's going to see a lot of Nathan McKinnon, I'm assuming. He's probably going to be a match, hard match for him
10:49
Stefano, I know what, you know, we said in the first round, don't really need to talk about Nathan McKinney and Kail McCar
10:54
They're going to be good. Who else are you watching against the stars here
11:00
I'm going to go throw, too. I'm going to start with Georgie. just to reiterate, again, this could be another goal-tending matchup
11:06
You know, he started the first game with just over a 700, say, a percentage. He managed to finish with a 900
11:11
This is a series, again, regular season stats we brought up in the last series of
11:16
Winnipeg dominated. This time Avalanche did when it came to 3 in the season series Both teams managed to score a combined 35 goals so offense is going to be a big key here So A I looking for Giorgiab to really continue his confidence in making sure this
11:30
would be a good matchup between Andger, which we've seen, be able to have that looked
11:34
well up to game three. He've looked rattled. He looked shaken. But come game four, he's locked it in
11:39
He's been phenomenal. But a true key player for me, I'm looking at is Casey Middlestat
11:43
He's looked really good on that second line. I have a stat here that he's on five on five
11:48
he has outscored Winnipeg 6 to 3 and outshot them 47 to 34 while he was on the ice
11:54
him with Zach Parizzi who I've seen just looked beyond my expectations
11:59
even better than 4 I thought he'd be a third to fourth line guy helping with some better speed and with that
12:04
but paired with him with Arturie Lekanin I think he's looked really confident
12:08
this is obviously a guy who's proven that he's wanted to show off more from this trade from Buffalo
12:12
so I'm really hoping that he can continue that second role death line and really show he's a player
12:18
that Jared Bednar and Chris McFarlane really want to show for the future
12:22
Well, Jacob knows Casey Middlestad quite well. I can give you plenty insight on Casey Middlestad
12:29
All you got to do is ask. Yeah, he's been really good since he joined the avalanche
12:34
So definitely living up to what they thought they were getting in him
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So we'll see how he does in this series. All right, let's move to some keys to victory
12:44
And I'll stay with you, Stefano. How are the avalanche going to get through the stars? and make it to the Western Conference final here
12:50
For me, I think it's got to be their key to speed and aggressiveness. I think this is going to be a complete flip-flop from the I Vegas side of their style and attack
12:58
that Dallas have seen throughout in seven games. I think if the abs can get early on with McCain and Ameri Carr and continue this fast-paced action
13:05
and really put the pressure on Arringer, it's going to need to come early
13:08
If they start slow again in game one and aren't able to defend well and Gergev can't continue well
13:14
and it's a back-to- an uphill climb, this can go very one-sided for Dallas
13:18
But I think if they continue that speed and the what we saw with constant zone pressure
13:23
continuing the special teams, which has been looked really good, we need to get on your office game as soon as possible
13:28
which isn't going to be easy with the players mentioned defensively. But it's going to be a key case you come game one
13:35
Jacob, what about you for the stars? Are they, I mean, like, they said they're on a bit of a role here
13:40
They've only lost once in the last, what is it, would be five games
13:44
So how are they going to continue this against the, against, against the abs
13:49
Yeah, like I'm stealing his answer at this point because it's almost identical. But honestly, no, it really is
13:55
Getting to the goaltender as quick as possible because if you can get on top of
13:59
Georgie of as fast as you can, you can get the goal first
14:03
As soon as you can get the goal first, that's how the stars really, really can perfect their
14:08
style of play. That's how they can really get to their shutdown mode as fast as possible
14:13
Get the first goal. Get that second goal. Once they're up one nothing, two nothing, then they can really start
14:17
to get that shutdown mode going. They don't have to score five, six goals
14:22
They're not the Edmonton Oilers. They don't have to play like that. They can get to those one, two, maybe even three goal games
14:28
and then they're really in a Biscrip type situation where they can just suffocate everything
14:34
and just keep everything to the outside, keep everything, just chip it right back out over the blue line
14:40
and then they're just frustrating everything that the avalanche can probably conjure up
14:45
Nathan McKinnon's speed doesn't mean a darn thing if all he's doing is circling around over the blue line
14:50
It doesn't matter what he wants to do. If all he's doing is spinning in circles
14:54
it doesn't matter even a little bit. But that's where the stars excel
14:59
So get to Georgiev quick. Get that first goal. That's really the key part to winning this type of a series
15:06
is you've got to get on top of them fast and then shut them down. The same thing, yeah
15:11
I mean, both goaltenders are definitely going to need to be, you don't want them enough confidence
15:16
because shown they can, they can get on a role, right? So, yeah, that's going to be interesting
15:21
The Avalanche played with a lot of speed and skill and rush
15:25
So if the stars can slow them down, yeah, definitely be a different series
15:30
All right, let's move on to some X factors in this series. And I'll stay with you, Jacob
15:35
What are some X factors situation player? What do you got? I think physicality is going to be an X factor in this series
15:43
I think the stars are maybe a little bit bigger. then the avalanche maybe are willing to play
15:49
I think the avalanche are going to try and use their speed to maybe outmaneuver the stars
15:54
And then if the stars can wear them down and really grind at them, then again, the speed won't really matter as much if the situations and the scenarios aren't there to get along the boards or get through the open ice
16:07
If they have to grind their way into corners and then again, your speed doesn't mean anything if the momentum isn't there to actually use it
16:15
or if the opportunity to claim the open ice isn't there. So taking away space, using physicality, and actually being a burden
16:22
using that, you know, shut down vice grip type play that Peter DeBore is using in the
16:28
playoffs so far with them. I think it's a great opportunity and a great X factor for them to use
16:34
and something that they've shown that they can excel at. They got a lot of big players, a lot of good defensemen to use it
16:41
Jamie Ben has shown that he's willing to throw his body plenty in these playoffs
16:45
So he's someone that can lead the way and do something like that. And I think it's going to be really, really fun to see how they do it
16:53
I'm still waiting for Stan Kovin to be a big factor. I mean, he was a bit noticeable in the first round, but I think he may be really good in this one
17:02
We see As Stefano what about Teff for the Avalanche What do you see as an X factor I think it got to go back to our special team but I think they a beat contribute to the first round series I think they did a great job on the power play
17:14
both lines when really, which you can't really call it a line one and a line two
17:18
It's the power play. They're all special. Even both these teams, no matter who you set out on these 5 on 4
17:22
is there going to be a key factor. But again, I think it's got to be really key practical players
17:27
especially with this Dallas Star's penalty kill. It could be important to get any opportunity you can
17:32
Obviously, as you go further in the series, penalties aren't a given. There are going to be something that's going to be rewarded
17:37
and something that you've got to capitalize every single time. And it goes to the penalty kill
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This is a team that really helps shut us down. As Georgiev played better, the penalty kill got better
17:47
And being able to shut guys like Pavelski and Rope Haynes from Crayola's opportunities and Harvey, Jason Robertson
17:53
Thomas Harley and Wyatt Johnson focused the carrying. And Lamedom is going to be something that really needs to be focused on
18:00
Yeah, special teams. I think we've mentioned it in every series preview here
18:04
So they're big things to focus on, that's for sure. All right, quickly, let's go to some series MVP's
18:12
Jacob, who's going to be the series MVP in this one? I think it's safe to say that it's going to have to be Jake Ottinger
18:20
If they're going to win, it's going to be on the back of the goaltender. He's going to have to come up big
18:25
He's going to have to make the saves. He's going to have to be the last line of defense when it comes to shutting down the
18:31
Colorado offense. The defense is going to be a big part of helping him do that
18:35
but he's still going to be the guy that's going to have to make the big saves. And, you know, he can try and do it as nonchalant as he want and, you know, maybe make a paddle
18:43
down while half looking at it, you know, big save for save of the year type thing
18:48
You know, cool, sure, that's flashy and fun for everybody to watch at home. But he's still going to have to be that guy
18:55
He's going to have to put up some ridiculous numbers. He's already sitting at, I think it was a one point, yeah, one point
19:01
0.95 goals against and a 0.925, say, percentage. So he's going to have to be sitting around that same mark by the end of it
19:10
if not even better, if they're really going to be standing a good chance against this Colorado
19:15
offense. It's lethal. It's absolutely dangerous beyond all imagining. And it's still something that's going to cause them problems
19:25
So he's going to have to be the guy. Yeah. Stefan, is that the same for
19:31
have says the goal tending? Are you going to go with some of their bigger guys for the MVP
19:37
I definitely would say it's your give. Everything that Jacob mentioned, I definitely want to say with
19:41
your give. But for me, it's got to be Miko Ranton. When I say in five games, he has two goals and
19:46
seven assists for nine points. When I say that's underperforming, you might say, wow, that's ridiculous
19:50
But when only two goals and two goals only came in game five, this is a guy who scored over 55 goals in
19:57
this season. His shot attempts and shot on goals have increased each game as the series went on
20:02
This is a guy that needs to be more productive and more confident in his shooting his lanes
20:06
We've seen from the first line to the fourth line goals from all the lines. And if we're able to see a guy like Miko Ranton, be able to take away some of the pressure
20:15
which again is hard already when you have playing with guys like McKinnon and Rantan himself and McCarr
20:20
but being able to be more aggressive and if he sees an open lane, being able to take it
20:25
and now noticing that Dallas has to put more pressure on him really opens up different lanes of avenues
20:32
Yeah, Ratan, it's funny. I say the stat line, you're like, what do you, he needs to step up? What are you talking about
20:36
Yeah, only two goals in one game. It definitely has to do a bit more in the overall series, right
20:44
All right, prediction time. Let's predict this series. Jacob, who do you got winning this one
20:51
I think it's going to be a war down to the last game. it's going to be a seven game series and I think the stars will pull it out and I really think out
21:00
of the seven games I'll bet you five of them go to overtime I I see it's going to be just a war
21:07
just one of those fun series for everybody to watch all the way down to since it's a what
21:13
or it's a central type game so it'll still we'll all be up to one a m watching
21:18
stephano what do you have for the series is it going the distance
21:23
I think it's simple. I think if we start out like we did with Winnipeg
21:27
I can definitely see this being stars in like five to six. But I think if we come out where it looked like in game two or game three
21:34
I can definitely see the Avalanche taking this in six. I wouldn't say five. I think this is definitely going to be a series longer than it before
21:40
with the depth and with performance we've seen in the first round of overcoming adversities of underperforming players
21:47
So I'm going to go Avalanche in six here with definitely a couple overtimes included
21:52
All right. Well, six or seven games series. I like the seven games
21:56
We got two seven games in the first round. But there was potential for more
22:01
So hopefully we get a few more of those big ones this year, or this round
22:06
Because there is. I think all the series could potentially go seven games because they're all tight and not much separating both of them, both teams
22:15
So yeah, I'm going to say seven games for this one as well. And I'm going to go with the avalanche
22:22
I think they have a bit more star power. And if McKinnon and them go off
22:26
I think the stars will be able to handle them. So seven games, though
22:30
It's going to go seven. And abs and seven there. All right
22:34
Well, thanks guys for coming on the show, talking the abs and stars
22:39
We'll see who's in round three for our next one. And for the Western Conference final
22:44
But until our next video, we'll see you next time
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