Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both left Thursday night’s game in Ottawa with injuries, and that immediately put Saturday’s matchup in Montreal under a cloud.
The Colorado Avalanche dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Senators, but the bigger concern may be what comes next. MacKinnon and Makar were both out by the third period, and the possibility that they could also miss the visit to the Bell Centre changes the feel of the game in a hurry.
MacKinnon played 11:33 and Makar logged 13:57, and neither of them recorded a point before exiting. With another game coming so soon, their availability has become the main storyline for Colorado heading into Montreal. Anthony Marcotte has already raised the possibility of the Avalanche arriving at the Bell Centre without either superstar.
That would be a major swing for the Canadiens, who are rolling at the right time. Montreal just beat Boston 5-2 and has gone 8-0-2 over its last 10 games.
Jacob Fowler was sharp again, turning aside 30 of 32 shots, while Jake Evans scored the winner and added an assist. Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Phillip Danault also scored in the win.
The numbers make clear what Colorado would be missing if both stars can’t go. MacKinnon has 30 points in 20 games this season, while Makar has 23 points in 19 appearances. MacKinnon drives the Avalanche’s offense, and Makar is one of the league’s most dangerous defensemen.
Even so, Colorado is not short on threats. Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen scored power-play goals against Ottawa, and Nazem Kadri and Devon Toews handled heavy minutes. The Avalanche also have a much better record at home than on the road, sitting at 7-1-2 on home ice compared with 4-5-1 away from it.
So Montreal may have caught Colorado at a favorable moment. But the Canadiens still have to bring it. Even with injury questions hanging over the Avalanche, the lineup remains dangerous, and the Bell Centre crowd will expect Montreal to take care of business.
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Canadiens Send A Clear Message Before Tough Avalanche Test
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Colorado arrives with its own urgency after an overtime loss, and the matchup sets up as a useful test of where Montreal really stands. The Canadiens have been especially strong away from home, while the Avalanche have not been nearly as comfortable on the road, which only adds a little more intrigue to a game that already feels like an early measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]