On the second night of this quick two-game road trip, which also happens to be another back-to-back, the Colorado Avalanche travelled east to face the New Jersey Devils. After a disappointing loss in Philadelphia last night, the Avalanche hope to end this trip on a high note and take a win back to the Mile High city. Avoiding a sluggish start despite the lack of rest is the key to success in beating this Devils team.
Colorado Avalanche: (5-3-1)
The Opponent: New Jersey Devils (4-4-0)
Time: 5:00 p.m. MT
Watch: KTVD, Altitude, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs enter this game with predictably their trio of top line players leading the squad statistically. Nathan MacKinnon has accumulated 16 points and six goals. Artturi Lehkonen has six goals to his name as well with nine points and Martin Necas sits in between with 11 points. Cale Makar also has nine points this season.
The lineup from last night seems like it will continue for this contest with the status quo with both Zach L’Heureux and Nic Roy still off the ice and left back home plus Logan O’Connor can’t play until he’s off LTIR after missing 10 games. Also for the fact that the team travelled without a single extra player so it would be a major surprise if someone else showed up in New Jersey this evening.
A change in net is expected, however, as Mackenzie Blackwood took the loss last night in Philadelphia. As it’s a back-to-back, this should be Scott Wedgewood’s net tonight. He’s also fared the best statistically thus far with a .902 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average but Blackwood has been tasked with seven starts to Wedgewood’s two.
Projected Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Nazem Kadri
Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Martin Necas
Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Noah Juulsen
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood
New Jersey Devils
The Devils are middling as always with a 4-4 start on the season with a -2 goal differential and are firmly in the mix in the Metro division. They also boast strong analytics but as per usual have placed the blame on goaltending for their woes, will the Avalanche show them the error of their ways? After a loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon the squad has had ample time to prepare for this match with Colorado and enter more rested than their opponent. Will that allow them to get off to a good start or will the Avalanche keep their momentum rolling?
It’s no surprise that Jack Hughes leads the team in scoring with nine points in eight games, and Jesper Bratt is right behind him with seven points. Nico Hischier leads the team in goals with four. The team expects Luke Evangelista back in the lineup after a brief absence. Neither goaltender has been much to write home about sporting GAAs over three and sub .900 save percentages but Jake Allen has started five games, so the expectation is he will be in net for this contest.
Projected Lineup
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Arseny Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Anthony Mantha – Evan Rodrigues – Stefan Nosen
Luke Evangelista – Cody Glass – Jesper Boqvist
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Declan Chisholm – Jonathan Kovacevic
Jake Allen
Nico Daws
