Jared Bednar said Monday he has no updates on Nathan MacKinnon or Valeri Nichushkin, telling reporters Colorado will "plan for all scenarios" ahead of Game 4.
That's the kind of answer a coach gives when nothing about his lineup is settled. And the Avalanche don't have time for vague.
Colorado trails Vegas 0-3 in the second round. One more loss and the season ends.
MacKinnon is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body issue. Nichushkin carries a day-to-day tag of his own, undisclosed.
Losing both at once would gut a team that already dropped Game 3 on the road by a 3-5 score. Down three games, short two top forwards, no margin left.
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MacKinnon was producing in this playoff run. He's posted 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points through 12 postseason games. That's a point-per-game pace plus.
Avalanche brace for a Game 4 lineup without their MVP candidate
Nichushkin's playoff line is quieter. 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points in 12 games. But he eats minutes against top lines and kills checks the depth guys can't.
You can't replace those two with a press-box callup and expect the result to change. Vegas knows it. So does the Colorado room.
Bednar's "all scenarios" line is doing real work here. It buys him cover if either skates in warmups and pulls out. It also tells the coaching staff to prep multiple forward combinations cold.
How do you draw up a Game 4 plan when your 127-point center might dress, might not, and won't tell you until puck drop?
The Avalanche finished the regular season 55-16-11 with 121 points, first overall. A team built for June. Now staring at a possible exit before Memorial Day.
The next answer Bednar gives on this won't be vague. It can't be.
Will Nathan MacKinnon dress for Game 4 if Colorado is one loss from elimination?
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