LAS VEGAS – There’s no other way around it. Game 3 is a must-win for the Colorado Avalanche.

Here are three keys to the Avalanche finding a way back in their series with the Golden Knights at 6 p.m. Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

Top six has to step up

Colorado’s top six forwards have been held off the scoresheet when together during this series. Valeri Nichushkin’s only goal came when playing on the third line. When coach Jared Bednar has loaded up his top six with Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, and Nichushkin, they haven’t been able to generate any offense. That has to change if the Avalanche want to steal a game in Vegas.

Wake up, power play

Colorado’s power play was much improved during the first two rounds of the postseason, but it has only scored in this series when it’s pulled the goaltender to get an extra skater on the ice. With a 1-0 lead in Game 2, the Avalanche had two opportunities with the man advantage and didn’t do anything with them, unless you count holding onto the puck for too long as something.

Will Cale Makar play in Game 3? That remains to be seen, but there’s still enough talent on the man advantage to at least generate a single shot on goal.

Outplay Carter Hart

Scott Wedgewood has had some great moments in this series, but he’s also let in a few poor goals that have come at inopportune times. Vegas’ first goal in Game 1 snuck right through him and changed the momentum of the game, while replays of Jack Eichel’s tying goal in the third period of Game 2 showed Wedgewood off his angle.

Do the Avalanche stick with Wedgewood or do they turn to Mackenzie Blackwood? The team won’t take morning skate on Sunday, so it’s unlikely we’ll know until the Avalanche hit the ice for warmups. Whoever is in net needs to outplay Carter Hart, which hasn’t happened in either of the first two games.