The Colorado Avalanche are heading east, kicking off a four-game road swing with a matinee matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drops at 11:38 a.m. MT, and there’s no shortage of storylines to track as two teams with very different recent trajectories meet for the second and final time this season.
Avalanche Looking to Regain Their Stride
The Avs wrapped up a seven-game homestand with a 3-2-2 record-a stretch that snapped their 17-game home winning streak, thanks in part to a 4-3 overtime loss to these very Maple Leafs. Since losing both Devon Toews and Gabriel Landeskog to injury, Colorado has gone 3-4-2, and while the talent is still there, the chemistry and consistency have taken a noticeable hit.
This trip offers a chance for the Avs to reset. But it won’t be easy, especially against a Toronto team that already knows how to beat them and is desperate to get back on track themselves.
Toronto Searching for Answers
Since their win in Denver, the Leafs have stumbled to a 1-3-2 record, including a pair of lopsided losses to the Vegas Golden Knights. In four of those six games, they’ve given up six goals-an ugly trend that’s exposed some serious defensive issues. Toronto is still dangerous, especially with their offensive firepower, but right now, they’re struggling to put together a full 60-minute performance.
Joseph Woll will get the start in net for the Leafs, hoping to steady things after a rocky stretch for the team’s goaltending group.
Goaltending Watch: Blackwood Gets Another Shot
For Colorado, Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to be back between the pipes. Since returning from injured reserve, it’s been a rough ride-he’s allowed 11 goals on just 47 shots, and his save percentage has dipped from a league-best .924 to .907. That’s a steep drop, and the Avalanche need him to find his form quickly, especially with Scott Wedgewood temporarily away from the team following the birth of his second child.
Isak Posch has been called up to back up Blackwood, but Wedgewood is expected to rejoin the team during the trip.
Season Series: Round Two
These teams met just a couple of weeks ago in Denver, with Toronto pulling off a 4-3 overtime win. That game snapped the Avalanche’s home streak and gave the Leafs a confidence boost they sorely needed at the time. Now, Colorado has a chance to return the favor in Toronto and even the season series.
Injury Report: Avs Still Missing Key Pieces
Colorado continues to navigate a tough injury stretch. Logan O’Connor is out with an undisclosed issue, while Ross Colton is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
On the blue line, Devon Toews remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Gabriel Landeskog is still out long-term with his own upper-body issue. That’s a lot of leadership and production missing from the lineup, and it’s shown in the team’s recent play.
Projected Avalanche Lines
Forwards:
- Victor Olofsson - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
- Artturi Lehkonen - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
- Joel Kiviranta - Jack Drury - Gavin Brindley
- Taylor Makar - Parker Kelly - Zakhar Bardakov
Defense:
- Sam Malinski - Cale Makar
- Josh Manson - Brent Burns
- Jack Ahcan - Samuel Girard
Goalies:
- Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood (expected)
- Backup: Isak Posch
Milestones to Watch
- Nathan MacKinnon is just three assists away from hitting 700. Given the way he’s been driving play this season, don’t be surprised if he gets there sooner rather than later.
- Samuel Girard needs three assists to reach 200 for his career.
- Valeri Nichushkin is five games away from hitting the 600-game mark.
- Gabriel Landeskog remains seven points shy of 600, though he’ll have to wait a bit longer to chase that down.
- Devon Toews is nine points away from 300.
How to Watch
- TV: NHL Network, Altitude TV
- Radio: 92.5 FM
This game offers a little bit of everything-two teams trying to rediscover their rhythm, a rematch with a little edge, and a handful of personal milestones looming. For the Avalanche, it’s a chance to prove they can still dictate games even while banged up.
For the Maple Leafs, it’s about stopping the bleeding and showing they can bounce back. Buckle up.