Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs, Game 66: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

It will be a big test for the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night, as they head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on national television.

It’ll be an even tougher test, as they’ll likely be without one of their top forwards for the remainder of the regular season.

With Artturi Lehkonen breaking his finger on Monday, the Avalanche will have to adjust their lines and hope somebody steps up. Denis Malgin appears set to get the first crack at filling in for Lehkonen, and he’s earned it. The Swiss forward has been red-hot, scoring three goals in his last five games.

On Tuesday, the Avalanche recalled Alex Galchenyuk to fill the open roster spot. He’s had a strong season with the Colorado Eagles, picking up 33 points in 33 games. Don’t be surprised if he gets a shift here and there in the top six.

Alexandar Georgiev will start in net.

On the radio Tuesday morning, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar called the Maple Leafs “a wagon.” He’s not wrong. With 88 points, they sit second place in the Atlantic Division, and appear destined for another first round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Offensively, they’re led by Mitch Marner, who has 85 points in 66 games and is on pace for the first 100 point season of his career.

The Maple Leafs won the only other matchup between these two teams back on New Years Eve by a score of 6-2.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Evan Rodrigues – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen

Valeri Nichushkin – J.T. Compher – Denis Malgin

Andrew Cogliano – Lars Eller – Logan O’Connor

Matt Nieto – Alex Newhook – Alex Galchenyuk

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Samuel Girard – Bowen Byram

Jack Johnson – Brad Hunt

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Jonas Johansson

Expected Toronto Maple Leafs Lines, per DailyFaceoff.com

Calle Jarnkrok – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner

Michael Bunting – John Tavares – William Nylander

Alex Kerfoot – Sam Lafftery – Noel Acciari

Zach Aston-Reese – David Kampf

Defense:

Morgan Rielly – T.J. Brodie

Jake McCabe – Justin Holl

Mark Giordano – Timothy Liljegren

Erik Gustafsson

Goalies:

Ilya Samsonov

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 24.3%, 6th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 79%, 18th in NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs Power Play: 25.6%, 2nd in NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs Penalty Kill: 80.7%, 13th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: TNT, Sportsnet

Radio: 92.5 Altitude Sports Radio

Game Time: 5:00 PM MST