A lot has transpired since the Colorado Avalanche met the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center just a week ago. The Devils traded for a little-known goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets over the weekend. In the other corner, Colorado is in the full throes of an identity crisis after they were left searching for answers following a third straight disappointing loss on the road in a game against the Nashville Predators. Good news is this meeting is at Ball Arena and the Avalanche are
ready to avenge that 4-3 loss at the hands of New Jersey.
Colorado Avalanche: (6-5-1)
The Opponent: New Jersey Devils (8-4-0)
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
It is a light portion of the schedule for Colorado as this is the only game during the work week for them and then two on Friday and Sunday to close the week out. This meeting with New Jersey is the second of three consecutive games in which Colorado plays their opponent on a second half of a back-to-back. It didn’t mean much in Nashville but perhaps the Avalanche can take advantage of some fatigue tonight.
The Avalanche finally have a full compliment of forwards available to them with Nic Roy deemed ready to go. Only Zach L’Heureux remains on the shelf with little update on his timeline to return. There was some line mixing at practice yesterday but it’s anyone’s guess how long the changes last.
Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to get the start tonight as he’s been in net for eight of Colorado’s 12 games thus far as the team works to get him established as the starting goaltender. Scott Wedgewood was also in net for that unfortunate loss in Nashville so it would be a surprise if he got the nod again so soon.
Projected Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nic Roy
Jaden Schwartz – Nazem Kadri – T.J. Hughes
Parker Kelly – Fedor Svechkov – Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Brett Kulak – Brent Burns
Josh Manson – Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
New Jersey Devils
The Avalanche will miss out on facing Hellebuyck as he made his Devils debut last night in a 5-1 drubbing of the Dallas Stars in which he made 16 saves. Jake Allen was in net for the win over the Avalanche last week and should get the net again.
Since that win over the Avalanche last Tuesday night in New Jersey, the Devils are currently on a four-game win streak and have jumped to second in the Metropolitan division.
It’s no surprise that Jack Hughes still leads the team in scoring with 14 points. The team itself is leading the league in expected goals percentsge with 62.75%, is a new analytic darling emerging or will they be put in their place tonight?
Projected Lineup
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Luke Evangelista
Arseny Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Anthony Mantha – Evan Rodrigues – Jesper Boqvist
Amadeus Lombardi – Cody Glass – Connor Brown
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Brenden Dillon – Jonathan Kovacevic
Jake Allen
Connor Hellebuyck
