Stars put shorthanded Avs on brink with Game 4 victory

The Dallas Stars are one win away from a second straight trip to the Western Conference Final after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 in Game 4 on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead.

Wyatt Johnston scored a pair of goals and added an assist on the eve of his 21st birthday to lead the charge.

The Avalanche were without two key members of their team on Monday. Valeri Nichushkin, who's tied for the playoff lead with nine goals, was suspended for six months after reportedly failing a drug test. Top-pair defenseman Devon Toews missed the game with an illness.

The Stars lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final a year ago.

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