LAS VEGAS – Regardless of whether or not the Avalanche win on Tuesday in Game 4, they may be staring down some big changes. They need a win to at least delay talk of those changes for a few days.

Here are three keys to Colorado staving off elimination in Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena (7 p.m.).

Better goaltending

Scott Wedgewood has had a great season, but here’s the reality of the situation: Carter Hart has outplayed him in all three games this series. When the games have gotten tight, Hart has made the big saves, while Wedgewood hasn’t. Giving up four goals in an 11-shot span on Sunday night was a killer. Mackenzie Blackwood probably should have been in net for Game 4, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he gets the call on Tuesday.

Regardless of who plays, the Avalanche need their goaltender to outplay Hart if they want to win.

Time for Brock Nelson
to find something

It’s likely too little, too late for Brock Nelson to salvage this postseason because the Avalanche coming back from being down 3-0 is statistically improbable, but it has to start somewhere. The center has played 19 playoff games in an Avalanche uniform and has not scored a goal on a goaltender yet. A remarkable statistic for someone who was a consistent goal scorer for the New York Islanders in the playoffs. There’s a chance the Avalanche won’t have Nathan MacKinnon in Game 4, so there will be even more pressure on Nelson to step up.

“I think even more frustrating, just given how the games kind of played out, too,” Nelson said on Monday. “So have to just continue to believe that you’re gonna get more looks, and capitalize on it, and be a difference maker, and turn it.”

Show some battle

The Avalanche looked stunned in the locker room after Sunday’s loss and on Monday, they still seemed out of it. When the Golden Knights have gotten any momentum in this series, they’ve looked the same way on the ice. Vegas has pushed and Colorado hasn’t been able to push back and counter them when it has mattered to get the big goal or save. If nothing else, the Avalanche have to compete on Tuesday night to show that they aren’t just going to go quietly into the night.