The Colorado Avalanche head into Calgary looking to put their first loss behind them and finish off the season’s first back-to-back against a Flames team that has stumbled out of the gate.
Puck drop at Scotiabank Saddledome is set for 7:08 p.m. MT, and the matchup comes one night after Colorado dropped a 3-2 decision to the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche were beaten on a late goal with just 60 seconds left in regulation, and now they turn right around for another road test.
One lineup wrinkle to watch is Logan O’Connor. Jared Bednar said earlier in the week that he expected O’Connor to be an option for Thursday in Calgary, and if that holds, he could make his season debut tonight.
That would likely mean a depth forward comes out of the bottom six. Zachary L’Heureux, who returned to the lineup Wednesday after a preseason injury, could be the odd man out to make room.
In goal, Colorado appears likely to go with Scott Wedgewood for his season debut after Mackenzie Blackwood started the first three games. Wedgewood is coming off the best season of his career, going 31-6-6 with a .921 save percentage in 2025-26. If he gets the nod, it will be the 200th game of his NHL career.
Calgary has been in rough shape across the board. The Flames are 0-3-0 and sit last in the league in both goals per game at 1.00 and goals against per game at 5.33.
Joel Farabee is the only player on the roster with more than one point, and of the 20 skaters Calgary has used, 19 are minus players. Brennan Othman is the lone exception with a zero in his one game.
Colorado’s injury list remains short, with Logan O’Connor listed as lower body and day-to-day.
The projected Avalanche lines show Artturi Lehkonen with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the top unit, followed by Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri. Jaden Schwartz is slated to skate with Fedor Svechkov and T.J. Hughes, while Parker Kelly, Nicolas Roy and Zachary L’Heureux make up the fourth line.
On the blue line, Devon Toews and Cale Makar are together, Brett Kulak is paired with Sam Malinski, and Josh Manson is listed with Brent Burns.
Projected starters have Wedgewood expected for Colorado and Devin Cooley unconfirmed for Calgary.
A few milestones are within reach as well. Wedgewood needs one game to reach 200, Kadri needs two power-play goals to hit 200, Blackwood needs six games for 300, and Roy needs seven points for 200.
The game will air on Altitude TV and KTVD My20, with radio coverage on 92.5 FM.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Than Logan OConnors Return
Logan OConnor was already closing in on a return to the lineup after recently signing a six-year extension with Colorado, but the Avalanche now have a far more important matter in front of them. The club announced that OConnor is stepping away following the sudden death of his father, Myles OConnor, a former NHL defenseman, and the focus has shifted from hockey timelines to something much heavier for one of the teams most reliable forwards.
The Avalanche expressed their condolences in the announcement and immediately moved to support OConnor through the loss. Myles OConnors death at 59 leaves a personal void that dwarfs any on-ice update, and Colorado plans to recognize him during Thursdays game against the Flames, a small gesture in a week defined by grief rather than roster news. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Stars Delivered The Response Colorado Needed After That Frustrating Loss
After a frustrating loss, Colorado needed a clean answer, and it got one in Calgary. The Avalanche shook off a slow start and turned the night into a 7-3 win, with Nathan MacKinnon setting the tone offensively and the group in front of him finding its rhythm as the game wore on.
Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Jaden Schwartz all chipped in, giving Colorado the kind of balanced attack that can make it dangerous when its stars are rolling. Scott Wedgewood backed it up with a steady night in net, helping the Avalanche settle in after a rough opening period and leave with the response they were looking for. [Read more 🡒]
Former Avalanche Blue-Liner Suddenly Faces A Long Absence In Seattle
Ryan Lindgrens first month in Seattle has hit an early snag. The former Avalanche defenseman had played in each of the Krakens first four games this season, but his role on the blue line has now been interrupted by an upper-body injury sustained in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Seattle has already moved Lindgren to injured reserve, a sign this is not expected to be a short-term absence. For the Kraken, it means a defense corps that was just getting its regular rhythm will have to adjust without one of its newest pieces for a while, leaving the lineup short for at least the next stretch of games. [Read more 🡒]