Carter Hart’s latest night in net didn’t do the Vegas Golden Knights any favors, and it may have handed Adin Hill a real opening.
Hart, who had already frustrated the Colorado Avalanche in the past by helping Vegas sweep Colorado in the Western Conference Final, was tagged for three goals in a little more than five minutes Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov and Danila Yurov all struck in the first period, and that sudden burst left Vegas chasing the game early.
After that rough opening stretch, Hart did settle in. He stopped everything else he saw, but the damage had already been done.
Vegas mounted a late charge to make things interesting, with Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson pulling the Golden Knights within 3-2. Joel Eriksson Ek then buried an empty-netter to shut the door.
That performance could push Hill into Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators. Reports indicate Hill is the likeliest starter as Vegas plays the second half of a back-to-back, while Hart could be back in Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
For Avalanche fans, Hart’s recent skid is at least a little satisfying, even if the ideal version of that storyline would come when Colorado and Vegas are actually on the same ice.
The Golden Knights have knocked Colorado out in each of their last two playoff meetings, including a six-game series in 2021 when the Avalanche were the Presidents’ Trophy winners. If these teams cross paths again in the postseason, Avalanche backers will be hoping the script flips.
In Other News...
Avalanche Catch A Break In Dallas But Face A Bigger Concern
The Avalanche walked into Dallas with a little extra room to breathe before puck drop, thanks to a Stars lineup that looks thinner than usual down the middle. Wyatt Johnston is unavailable because of an illness, and thats a notable absence for a team that has leaned on his reliability for a long stretch. Sam Steel has been bumped up to second center, and Dallas is even asking defenseman Kyle Capobianco to fill in as a forward, a sign the Stars are patching things together wherever they can.
Colorado still has its own issues to manage, though, and they are bigger than any short-term break in the matchup. The Avalanche are also missing Cale Makar for family reasons, and that leaves them operating with 17 skaters while trying to keep pace in a game that already has some shuffling on both benches. With injuries adding to the uncertainty for both sides, this one has turned into less of a clean matchup and more of a test of depth and adaptability. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Got The Response They Needed In Heated Stars Win
MacKenzie Blackwood steadied the Avalanche in a needed 3-2 win over the Stars during the NHLs Frozen Frenzy, turning aside 24 shots and helping Colorado reset the tone after its previous loss. Martin Necas delivered the offense with two goals, including the power-play winner, as the Avalanche found a way to come out on top in a game that had plenty of bite for this early stretch of the schedule.
The physical edge was part of the story, too, with Nathan MacKinnon dropping the gloves in a fight and leaving with a bloody nose that needed attention during the game, though he is expected to be fine. Colorado and Dallas are right back at it in the next game of the home-and-home, giving the Avalanche a quick chance to show whether this win was just a response or the start of something steadier. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fast Start Suddenly Feels Fragile Against Dallas
Artturi Lehkonen gave Colorado the kind of start it wanted, scoring first in the opening period and briefly putting the Avalanche in control against Dallas. The pace was tense from there, with both goaltenders making key saves as the Stars pressed back and the game settled into the sort of early-season test that can turn on one mistake.
Dallas found that mistake before the period was over, tying things at 1-1 on a power play and taking some of the shine off Colorados opening push. Penalties and a late altercation only added to the unease, leaving the Avalanche with a good start that suddenly felt a lot less secure heading into the next stretch of the game. [Read more 🡒]