Avalanche Look to Sweep Red Wings in Home-and-Home Clash at Ball Arena
The Colorado Avalanche are back on home ice tonight, wrapping up a home-and-home set against the Detroit Red Wings with puck drop set for 7:08 p.m. MT at Ball Arena. After a dominant 5-0 win in Detroit on Saturday, the Avs have a chance to complete the sweep - and they’re bringing some reinforcements back into the lineup to help get it done.
Avalanche Firing on All Cylinders
Saturday’s win wasn’t just a victory - it was a statement. Colorado played with pace, precision, and poise, and Detroit simply couldn’t keep up.
Nathan MacKinnon led the charge, as he’s done so often this season, racking up two goals and an assist. The performance pushed him within one assist of the 700 mark - a milestone that could very well come tonight in front of the home crowd.
Between the pipes, Mackenzie Blackwood was rock solid, turning aside all 28 shots he faced for the shutout. His play was calm and composed, and he’ll get the nod again tonight.
On the other end, Detroit’s John Gibson struggled, allowing four goals on 17 shots before being pulled after two periods. Still, the Red Wings are sticking with him in net, hoping for a bounce-back effort.
Injury Updates and Lineup Moves
Colorado will once again be without forward Martin Necas, who remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury after being a late scratch in Saturday’s game. It’ll be his second straight absence. The Avs are also still missing captain Gabriel Landeskog (upper body) and Logan O’Connor (undisclosed), with no immediate return timeline for either.
But there’s good news on the blue line: Devon Toews is back. The steady defenseman returns to action for the first time since Jan. 3 in Carolina, slotting in for Keaton Middleton. Toews will reunite with Cale Makar on the top pairing, giving Colorado a boost in both puck movement and defensive reliability.
Projected Avalanche Lines
Here’s how the Avs are expected to line up tonight (subject to change):
Forwards:
- Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Valeri Nichushkin
- Ross Colton - Brock Nelson - Victor Olofsson
- Parker Kelly - Jack Drury - Joel Kiviranta
- Taylor Makar - Zakhar Bardakov - Gavin Brindley
Defense:
- Devon Toews - Cale Makar
- Josh Manson - Brent Burns
- Samuel Girard - Sam Malinski
Goaltenders:
- Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood
- Backup: Scott Wedgewood
Red Wings Seeking Answers
Detroit will be looking for a response after getting blanked on home ice. The Red Wings are still a strong team with a 32-18-6 record, but they’ll need more from their top players tonight if they want to hang with a Colorado squad that’s been nearly unbeatable at home.
John Gibson gets another shot in net, despite a rough outing on Saturday. If Detroit has any hope of slowing down MacKinnon and company, Gibson will need to find his rhythm early.
Milestones to Watch
There are a few personal milestones within reach tonight:
- Nathan MacKinnon needs 1 assist to hit 700 for his career.
- Valeri Nichushkin is one game away from 600.
- Samuel Girard is 2 assists shy of 200.
- Gabriel Landeskog needs 7 points for 600 (though he remains sidelined).
- Martin Necas is 7 games away from 500.
- Devon Toews is 9 points from 300.
Season Series Recap
This is the second and final meeting between these two Original Six rivals this season. The first one, just three days ago in Detroit, went decisively in Colorado’s favor with a 5-0 shutout win.
How to Watch
TV: Altitude TV, KTVD My20
Radio: 92.5 FM
With the Avalanche continuing to surge and MacKinnon chasing yet another milestone, tonight’s matchup has all the ingredients of a high-energy, high-stakes showdown. If Saturday was any indication, the Avs aren’t just looking to win - they’re looking to dominate.