The Colorado Avalanche are rolling into the heart of their seven-game homestand with serious momentum, and next up on the schedule: the Anaheim Ducks. Puck drops tonight at Ball Arena at 7:08 p.m. MT, and while the Avs are looking to keep their foot on the gas, Anaheim arrives trying to prove they’re more than just a streaky team.
Nichushkin Returns, Ahcan Draws In
The Avalanche get a key piece back tonight as Valeri Nichushkin returns to the lineup. He missed Monday’s matinee against Washington after being involved in a minor car accident earlier in the day. Fortunately, it was precautionary, and he was back at practice Tuesday-good news for a Colorado team that’s already managing its fair share of injuries.
On the blue line, Jack Ahcan gets the call-up and will step in for Ilya Solovyov, who was recently traded. Ahcan hasn’t seen NHL ice since November 11-coincidentally, also against Anaheim at Ball Arena.
He’ll be looking to make the most of this opportunity as Colorado tests its depth. Taylor Makar was also recalled, filling in for Alex Barre-Boulet.
Anaheim’s Rollercoaster Season
The Ducks have been one of the more unpredictable teams in the league this year. They came out of the gate hot with an 11-3-1 start and were riding a seven-game winning streak before Colorado cooled them off with a 4-1 win back in November. Since then, it’s been a rough stretch-Anaheim went 10-18-2 over their next 30 games and slipped out of playoff position.
But just when it looked like the wheels might be coming off, here come the Ducks again. They’ve won four straight heading into tonight’s matchup, trying to claw their way back into the conversation.
They’ll have to do it without their top center, Leo Carlsson, who’s out with an injury and won’t be suiting up for Team Sweden at the Olympics either. Lukas Dostal is confirmed to start in goal.
Goaltending and Lineup Notes
For Colorado, Scott Wedgewood is expected to get the nod again between the pipes. With Alexandar Georgiev still out, Wedgewood has been steady, and the Avs will lean on him again tonight.
Here’s how the Avalanche are expected to line up (subject to change, as always):
Forwards:
- Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
- Ross Colton - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
- Parker Kelly - Jack Drury - Victor Olofsson
- Taylor Makar - Zakhar Bardakov - Gavin Brindley
Defense:
- Sam Malinski - Cale Makar
- Josh Manson - Brent Burns
- Jack Ahcan - Samuel Girard
Goalies:
- Scott Wedgewood
- Mackenzie Blackwood
Injury Report
The Avs are still dealing with a handful of injuries:
- Logan O’Connor (undisclosed) - TBD
- Joel Kiviranta (lower body) - week-to-week
- Devon Toews (upper body) - week-to-week
- Gabriel Landeskog (upper body) - still listed as “weeks” away
Season Series Snapshot
This is the second of three meetings between these teams this season. The Avs took the first one back on November 11 with a 4-1 win at home. The final matchup comes March 3 in Anaheim.
Milestones to Watch
A few Avalanche players are closing in on some notable career marks:
- Samuel Girard needs 3 assists to reach 200
- Gabriel Landeskog is 7 points away from 600
- Devon Toews needs 9 points to hit 300
- Valeri Nichushkin is 7 games from reaching 600
- Nathan MacKinnon is just 5 assists shy of 700
How to Watch
- TV: Altitude TV
- Radio: 92.5 FM
The Avalanche are 34-5-8 for a reason-they’ve been dominant at home, and they’ve shown they can adapt even when the lineup gets shuffled. But Anaheim’s recent surge makes this one worth watching.
If the Ducks can bring the same energy they’ve shown during their current win streak, we could be in for a fast-paced, physical contest. One thing’s for sure: Ball Arena will be buzzing.