Diving deep on the key matchups, injury situations, goalie confidence levels, X-factors and why each team should be optimistic.

Near the end of the regular season, a certain Colorado Avalanche reporter decided to stay in Texas and attend Dallas Stars practice instead of returning to Denver for a home game against the St. Louis Blues.

Mackenzie Blackwood wasn’t in a good place before the road trip. The Avalanche’s usual starting netminder had been poor in three consecutive starts. And if you include a fourth appearance in relief against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blackwood had stopped ...