If the Avalanche are to avoid a shockingly quick exit, they're going to need MacKinnon to produce. The 2026 Maurice Richard Trophy winner entered the Western Conference final with a six-game goal-scoring streak but has yet to put the puck past Vegas G Carter Hart and registered only four shots over the first two games. The Avalanche have produced only three goals in the series without D Cale Makar (upper body) in the lineup, and he could also miss Game 3, so it's imperative that MacKinnon find a way to score. I believe he will.

Dorofeyev entered this postseason with two points in nine career playoff games and has matched that total in three of his last four outings. The 25-year-old Russian right wing leads all players with 10 goals and has landed on the scoresheet in six consecutive contests, collecting six tallies and three assists during the streak. He'll extend it to seven games on Sunday.

Martin Necas set a career high this season with 38 goals. But the 27-year-old Czech center scored just once in nine games over the first two playoff rounds. There's been no lack of trying, as Necas is second on the Avalanche with 25 shots. He recorded three goals in as many meetings with Vegas during the regular season, so I like his chances of breaking out of his slump in this series, beginning with the opening game.

Pavel Dorofeyev registered three or more shots on goal in four consecutive games against Utah in the first round, then recorded just one in each of his next four outings. The 25-year-old Russian right wing is back to shooting with regularity, as he has notched at least three in three straight contests, scoring a total of five times. He's second on the Golden Knights with 32 shots this postseason, and I expect him to continue his shooting spree in Game 1.

Brett Howden had 12 goals in 58 games during the regular season but has seven in 11 contests this postseason. Since failing to score in Vegas' first three playoff games, he has converted in six of the team's last eight. The fact he didn't score in Game 5 against the Ducks makes me like his chances on Thursday even more, as I'm hesitant to back a player with a lengthy goal-scoring streak (i.e. Anaheim's Beckett Sennecke). I think it's worth taking a chance on Howden in Game 6.

After scoring a career-high 51 goals to finish two behind Nathan MacKinnon for the Maurice Richard Trophy this season, Cole Caufield tallied just once in Montreal's first nine playoff contests. But he appears to have rediscovered his touch as he ended his five-game drought in Game 3 and converted again two nights later. Including the 2025-26 regular season, Caufield has six goals in eight outings against Buffalo, and I expect him to add to that total Thursday night.

I was on the Josh Doan assist train for each of Buffalo's last two games and safely reached my desired destination both times, so I'm taking another ride. He's notched an assist in five straight and six of his last seven after going without a point in his first three career playoff games. The Canadiens have yet to find a way to keep Doan off the scoresheet in this series, and I don't see them discovering a method in Game 5.