Avalanche Look to Bounce Back Against Sharks in Final Regular-Season Meeting
The Colorado Avalanche are set to close out their two-game homestand with a Wednesday night showdown against the San Jose Sharks at Ball Arena. This marks the third and final regular-season meeting between these two Western Conference foes, with each team owning a win so far-San Jose edged Colorado 3-2 in overtime back on November 1, while the Avs answered with a dominant 6-0 shutout on home ice later that month.
Avalanche Seeking a Response After Rare Home Loss
The Avs are coming off a rare stumble at home, falling 2-0 to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. It was a game that started on the wrong foot and never quite turned around-Detroit’s Marco Kasper struck just 33 seconds into the first period, and Colorado couldn’t find the back of the net the rest of the way. An empty-netter from Lucas Raymond sealed it late in the third.
Despite the loss, Mackenzie Blackwood turned in a solid performance in net, stopping 23 of 24 shots. Head coach Jared Bednar acknowledged the positive trend in Blackwood’s recent play, pointing to his consistency over the past few starts-including a 28-save shutout against Detroit on Saturday and a 33-save effort against Toronto on January 25.
“He’s stringing together some nice games,” Bednar said. “He’s getting back in the swing of things.”
MacKinnon, Makar Continue to Lead the Charge
Even with the shutout loss, there’s no ignoring the firepower Colorado brings into every game, especially with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar leading the way.
MacKinnon is having one of those seasons that reminds you why he’s in the MVP conversation every year. He leads the league in goals (40), sits second in points (91), and is tied for fourth in assists (51). He’s been a nightmare for the Sharks over the years too-58 points in 39 regular-season games against San Jose, plus five more in the playoffs.
Makar, meanwhile, continues to redefine what a modern defenseman can be. He’s fourth among NHL blueliners in points (56), fifth in assists (41), and tied for fifth in goals (15).
Against San Jose? He’s been just as lethal-31 points in 18 regular-season games, plus four assists in seven playoff matchups.
Sharks Struggling to Find Their Footing
San Jose enters this one on the heels of a 6-3 loss in Chicago, a game where they fell behind 4-0 before trying to claw their way back. Connor Bedard got the scoring started for the Blackhawks with a power-play goal, and Chicago poured it on with three more in the second period. Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, and Shakir Mukhamadullin each found the net to make it interesting, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Celebrini continues to be the bright spot for the Sharks. The rookie phenom leads the team across the board-goals (28), assists (51), and points (81).
He’s been the engine of San Jose’s offense all season long. Smith has also been a key contributor, ranking second on the team in points (39) and goals (17).
Alexander Wennberg has quietly put together a strong season as well, sitting second in assists (26) and tied for third in overall points (36).
Series Snapshot
Colorado holds the historical edge in this matchup. In 113 regular-season games, the Avs are 62-38-5-8 against the Sharks. Their playoff history includes five series, most notably the 1999 Western Conference Quarterfinals and the 2002 Semifinals-both won by Colorado.
This season, the head-to-head has been a tale of two games. The Sharks grabbed a tight OT win at home in early November, but the Avs flipped the script with a six-goal statement win in Denver just weeks later. Wednesday’s rubber match will decide the season series-and could offer a spark for Colorado as they look to regain momentum.
Home-Ice Advantage Still a Factor
Despite Monday’s loss, Ball Arena has been a fortress for the Avalanche. Their .912 team save percentage at home is tied for the best in the NHL, and their penalty kill has been elite-ranking second in the league at 84.4%. That kind of defensive reliability, especially in front of a home crowd, makes Colorado a tough out on any night.
Milestone Watch: MacKinnon Nearing 700 Assists
One more assist, and Nathan MacKinnon will hit another major milestone-700 career helpers. He’d become just the second player in franchise history to reach that mark, joining Joe Sakic (1,016). It’s yet another reminder of just how special MacKinnon has been for this franchise.
What to Watch For
- Can the Avalanche rebound offensively after being shut out for the first time at home since early in the season?
- Will MacKinnon notch his 700th assist in front of the home crowd?
- Can Blackwood continue his strong run in net if he gets the start?
- Will Celebrini and the Sharks find a way to break through Colorado’s stingy penalty kill?
Puck drops at 7 p.m. MT at Ball Arena. If the Avalanche play to their strengths-and if their stars continue shining-they’ll be in good position to take the season series and head back out on the road with momentum in hand.