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It's gut-check time in Game 4 |
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Rick Sadowski
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It’s response time for the Avalanche, who will either grab a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena or head home 2-2 turning this into a nail-biter the rest of the way.
GAME NOTES
They didn’t have a morning skate because of the early start (5:30 p.m. PT).
“We have to get on the inside of a lot of plays quicker,” coach
Jared Bednar said Saturday after ripping team leadership and the top players' lack of effort and performance Friday following the 3-2 loss. “Our puck support has been poor, we’re not getting to the puck quick enough in a bunch of different areas. Part of it is work basis, part of it is some of the routes we’re taking.
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The schedule, all times MT
Game 1 --– Avalanche 7-1
Game 2 -- Avalanche 3-2 (OT)
Game 3 -- Vegas 3-2
Sunday -- at Vegas, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday -- at Avalanche, 7 p.m.
*Thursday -- at Vegas, TBD
*Saturday -- at Avalanche, TBD
* If necessary
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“We have to earn the ice that we get, they’re checking the right way, we’ve checked the right way for the better part of the year and we’ve got to get back to that. In order to create offense against a team that’s about working and being physical and putting numbers at the puck, you got to get to the inside of the ice and you got to be willing to go into those hard areas and win some battles.
“There’s no easy play out there, there’s no easy ice out there.”
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Not expecting a hat trick from anyone, but …
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Still no word from the independent arbitrator regarding
Nazem Kadri’s appeal Friday of his eight-game suspension. If a decision isn’t made before faceoff, he will serve his sixth game Sunday.
Perhaps Kadri will get lucky, have the penalty fulfilled for time served Monday and return to the lineup Tuesday for Game 5. The Avalanche certainly could use him, and his presence would provide a nice boost.
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