- Johnston's Double Powers Dallas to Commanding 3-1 Series Lead Over Avalanche - Nichushkin's Potential Suspension Threatens Avalanche's Comeback Efforts - Avalanche's Key Player Absences Contribute to Facing Elimination After Game 4 Loss

Monday, May 13th, 2024

On the threshold of turning 21, Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars celebrated by netting two goals, propelling his team to a dominant 5-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche during the fourth game of the second-round series.

Johnston contributed significantly with both a short-handed and a power-play goal in the second period, which propelled the Stars to a commanding 3-1 series advantage. Contributions also came from Miro Heiskanen, Evgenii Dadonov, and Sam Steel, while goaltender Jake Oettinger secured the victory with 24 saves.

Just moments before the puck dropped, the Avalanche suffered a significant setback with Valeri Nichushkin, their top scorer in the postseason, being sidelined for a minimum of six months unpaid due to participation in the league's player assistance program. Their challenges were compounded by the absence of Devon Toews, who was out with an illness.

The Avalanche found it difficult to establish momentum from the start, trailing significantly in shots 16-2 during the initial period. Casey Mittelstadt managed to put one on the board for them in the second period.

Johnston's exceptional performance placed him among the elite, becoming the eighth NHL player to achieve ten or more postseason goals before the age of 21. His achievement was celebrated post-game with a unique candy bar cake.

The Stars maintained a steady lead throughout the series, never falling behind in regulation, and now look forward to potentially clinching the series in Game 5 on their home ice come Wednesday.

On the verge of elimination, the Avalanche are poised to make a last stand on their home ice, hoping to extend their season further.

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Game Stats

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