Game 3 pregame notebook: Avs to be short-handed again, but home crowd could make difference

The Avalanche hasn’t gotten a single break in this first-round playoff series with the Nashville Predators, and that includes in the medical room too.

Sam Girard, the rookie defenseman who is so important to the Avs’ puck-possession game, will miss a second straight game tonight in Game 3, with an upper-body injury. Jared Bednar said he is “hopeful” Girard will be able to return for Game 4 on Wednesday night.

So, there’s no sugar-coating it folks: the Avs were already a big underdog even with Girard in the lineup. They’re a massive underdog without him.

But, hey, the Avs just have to find a way to win one game and then maybe they get the super-smooth 19-year-old back for a Game 4 and a chance to even the series. If that is to happen, the Avs need three things, I think:

1. Better goaltending than they’ve gotten so far from Jonathan Bernier. He can’t be allowing any more long-range, unobstructed slap shots to beat him from the short side. He can’t keep allowing Nashville to get back in games with easy goals. He has to make the saves in the key moments. So far, he hasn’t done that. His goals-against average through two games is 4.08 and his saves percentage .871. Not good enough.
2. More from Mikko Rantanen and Gabe Landeskog offensively. I think Nathan MacKinnon has been dangerous in both games and has gotten some rewards on the score sheet for it. I don’t think Landy and Rants have been keeping pace. Rantanen, especially. He’s got to be quicker and more decisive with the puck, especially on the power play. More shots on net, fewer passes back to the point after surveying the landscape for an extra, unnecessary second or two. All that does is give Nashville’s PK unit more time to get in front of his shots or passes.
3. Better overall play from Tyson Barrie. He’s a team-worst minus-5 in the first two games. He does have two assists, but I haven’t loved his play so far on the power play. Like Rantanen, too slow, too deliberate. Without Erik Johnson and Girard out, the Avs need more from him.

A rip-roaring, lively home crowd wouldn’t hurt the Avs’ chances either. We’ve seen what a difference a loud crowd can make for a team, in Nashville. Are Avs fans ready to bring the Rocky Mountain Thunder tonight?

Let’s hope so. This place can be as loud as anyone when they want to be. It should be a fun night regardless. This is the first playoff game in Denver in four years, so people will be jacked I’m sure. This Avs team needs all the support it can get right now, so it’s time to make your voices heard, Denver.