Colorado Avalanche fans breathe a sigh of relief as Cale Makar’s injury appears minor, but does his absence open new opportunities for young guns like Sam Malinski? Chris Micieli and Zach Pearson break down the strategic advantages of resting stars before the playoffs, highlight Dallas Stars’ slip in the standings, and ponder if the Avalanche’s goalie tandem—Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood—could rewrite the typical Stanley Cup Playoff playbook.   Key discussions focus on lineup experimentation, Malinski’s rise in Makar’s absence, and the rejuvenated Avalanche power play featuring Nazem Kadri. The hosts debate whether recent special teams improvements are truly sustainable and spotlight Logan O’Connor’s vital impact on the penalty kill. With the magic number dropping and a showdown against Dallas looming, the Avalanche’s postseason outlook grows even more intriguing. Will Jared Bednar’s rotation keep Colorado primed for a Cup run?   Everydayer Club: If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Avalanche Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. https://lockedonavalanche.supercast.com/     Subscribe to our Subtext to talk to us directly! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonavalanche   Everything Locked on Avalanche: https://solo.to/lopn_avalanche   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…   🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOAvalanche?sid=YouTube   Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL     Follow on X:   Chris: https://twitter.com/c__micieli Zach: https://twitter.com/XavierSuperfly Show Page: https://twitter.com/LOPN_Avalanche   #NHL #coloradoavalanche   ________________________________________________________ Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.   Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.   Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. During the tournament FanDuel is offering $300 back in Bonus Bets every day for ten days. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.